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Feedlot

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A feedlot or feedyard is a type of confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) which is usually used for fattening cattle prior to processing. They may contain thousands of animals in an array of pens. Most feedlots require some type of governmental permit and must have plans in place to deal with the large amount of waste that is generated.

Prior to entering a feedlot, cattle may spend some period of time grazing on a range or on immature fields of grain such as wheat. Once cattle obtain an entry-level weight, they then enter the feedlot to be fed a specialized diet which may be made up of hay, corn, various grain by-products of food processing, such as soybean meal or cottonseed meal, or other feed, and minerals.

Once cattle are fattened up to their finished weight, they move on for processing and eventual shipment to retailers in the distribution region served by the company which operates the feedlot.

See also: factory farm

Texas Cattle Feeders Association
Harris Feeding Company, California's largest cattle feeder

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