In Americas and Australia, the main system of finishing cattle is through feedlots, which are confined areas on which cattle are fed mechanically, or occasionally by hand, in their final stages of growth before slaughter for meat.
The feedlots usually finish the store cattle intensively over a 2-6 month period, depending on the growth potential of the cattle and market requirements.
The beef feedlots in industry in Brazil has consolidated in the last decade as an option for finishing cattle because of the increasing demand from export markets.
The number of animals finished in feedlots in Brazil increased 50% during 2000s with most of the beef produced in destined for external markets.
The feedlot systems has other names: Intensive Livestock Operation (ILO), Confined Feeding Operation (a term used in Canada), or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO).
The location, design and construction of a feedlot and/or a feed pad should take account of topography, climate, age and size or animals to be fed, space and feed requirements and labor and management skills available.
Feedlot system
