ANSC 1011 Chapter : Feedlot Industry
Feedlot Industry 10/8/12
Feeder Animal:
• Lambs, pigs or calves of a weight and size that need to be grown
and fattened before suited for slaughter.
• Cattle usually go to the feedlot at about 1 year of age (500-800lbs)
150$ per 100lbs.
• The color black (coat) is beautiful
Trends
• 1950’s cattle and lambs were fed by Midwestern family farms.
• 1960’s & 70’s feeding industry shifted to high plains
• 1980’s moved slightly north and east
calf would cost about a $1,000
Feedlot location:
• Available grain, dry climate, space, feeder cattle source
• Slaughter plants followed: truck transportation, cheaper labor &
land, easier to ship carcasses & packaged product than live animals.
•
Feedlot Mangement
• Big business- profit is the goal
• Two types: Custom & commercial
• Risk is high: 1. Fluctuation in cattle and feed prices, 2. Health
problems, 3. Storms, 4. Equipment & people problems
• Feedlot Costs: 1. Large amount of capital, 2. Price of feeder animal
& cost of gain feeder animal: Selling price, commission, trucking,
death loss, heifers cheaper than steers- Pregnant, lower selling
price.
• Feeder animals:
o Lighter vs. Heavier- cost/lb or total cost
o Death loss: prior to handling, age & size. Longer hauling
o Animal performance: Faster gains/cheaper heifers slower
steers, eat more prior to storm less after.
Terms:
• Pencil Shrink: an agreed upon adjustment to initial weight
• Compensatory gain: larger gain than normally expected due to
think, large framed animals
