Characteristics of Beef Cattle Feedlots: California, Colorado, Western Corn Belt

Excerpts from the report: Since World War II, the cattle feeding industry has grown rapidly and the number of feedlots and number of cattle marketed through feedlots have increased greatly. Traditionally, the Corn Belt has been the center of cattle feeding, but, in recent years, the industry has expanded more in the western and southwestern regions, thus decreasing the importance of the central area. Accompanying this growth have been changes in several dimensions of feeding operations. Large commercial feedlots have come into existence. Farmer feeding operations have expanded. Feedlots have become integrated both vertically and horizontally. Custom feeding has been important in the growth of the feeding industry, especially in the West. Farmer feeding has remained centered in the central part of the United States with an increase in number of feedlots and cattle fed. The basic objective of this report is to describe characteristics of cattle feeding operations in three major cattle feeding regions in the United States during the study period of July 1, 1966, to June 30, 1967. The three regions were chosen because their feeding operations are generally regarded as being considerably different from each other. Emphasis is placed on organization for feedlot operations and feeding and marketing which includes procurement and selling practices.