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Facts on Feedlots for Cattle

Cattle feedlots are locations where large numbers of cattle are fed in a relatively enclosed area. The primary difference between feedlot cattle and free-range cattle is that food is brought to the animal instead of the animal moving to the food. Animal-rights activists have expressed concerns over the well- being of cattle housed in feedlots, while agricultural experts maintain that the quality of life for animals in feedlots is more than adequate.

Purpose
- Cattle are not born, raised and shipped from feedlots. Instead, feedlots are typically where cattle end up before they are shipped to a packing or processing plant. Most cattle spend a great deal of their life on pasture land of some kind. However, when a cow or steer is getting close to being ready to ship, it can be difficult for a farmer to get that cow to market weight, especially in years where pasture conditions are less than ideal. Feedlots overcome this problem by bringing food to the cattle.
Conditions
- Activists sometimes maintain that the conditions of cattle feedlots are disgusting and leave cattle in poor health. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association stresses that feedlots put a priority on animal health from an ethical standpoint and from a business standpoint, as healthy animals grow quickly and therefore fetch better prices at market. When designing feedlots, owners ensure that proper drainage is present in the pens, that steps are taken to keep feed and water supplies free of manure and urine and that manure is removed from the pens as frequently as possible. Manure removal benefits farmers on multiple levels, as it leads to healthier cattle and provides excellent fertilizer.
Monitoring
- Cattle in feedlots are watched carefully. No animal will be left to get sick and suffer in its pen without notice by those in charge of the operation. Feedlots employ cowboys known as "pen riders." Pen riders work on horseback and are constantly on patrol throughout the lot. They look for things like conditions that need to be improved, but mostly are on the watch for animals that display any signs of illness or injury. These animals are then immediately moved to another location where they receive veterinary attention.
Feed Makeup
- One of the myths of feedlot cattle feeding is that cattle are fed a diet of nothing but corn. While it is true that a high percentage of the diet may be made from corn, other nutrient sources including grass are mixed with grain based diets to create a healthy diet for the cattle. Depending on the feedlot, cattle may receive a diet that consists of anywhere between 70 to 90 percent grain on average. Exceptions exist, and managers monitor the health of animals and switch them to different diets if they don't do well on a high-percentage grain feed mixture.

Animals & Science