Fattening cattle

Cattle fattening has gained prominence as an important business project of the livestock industry nowadays.

Fattening cattle prior to slaughter increase the dressing percentage and improves the quality of beef. Thus, the value of the animal is increased.

In some countries, feedlot cattle are fed with harvested crops (mostly grains) so as to put them in good finish.

Feedlot fattening involves the provision of an artificial environment wherein cattle are placed in a confined are to consume a predetermined diet. It is a intensive fattening operation based model where cattle are penned in groups of varying sizes for fattening.

Profit comes from the growth of the animals, efficiency of liveweight gain, and improved carcass value relative to the cost of feed and other inputs. Fattening cattle in feedlot requires simple care and management.
Fattening cattle

Intensive cattle production systems

In intensive production system, cows are housed loose or tied in barns, with automatic feeding, manure cleaning and milking. There is artificial ventilation, lighting and microclimate control.

Grazing is not practiced for cows in intensive milk production, they are mainly fed in the barns.

These systems are characterized by a high stocking density and a high output of animal products per unit of agricultural land and per unit of stock.

This is generally achieved by high efficiency in converting animal feed into animal products.

Cattle are fed diets that are energy-dense, consisting primarily of grain. Current feedlot production and management efficiently produce highly marbled beef that is subsequently low in price for consumers.

Cattle are generally fed to an end point that is desirable buy consumers, i.e., safe, flavorful and tender. This end point is generally 28% to 30% carcass fat, US Department of Agriculture Choice grade, with 0.4 to 0.5 in, of backfat.
Intensive cattle production systems

Feedlot system

A feedlot is a fenced or closed area where animals are fattened for market. More precisely, it’s a livestock management system where grazing animals are confined to an area that produces no feed, and are then fed on stored feeds.

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

Stocker cattle

There are typically three stages of beef production: cow-calf, growing and finishing.

Most calves go through some sort of post weaning growing –programs, although specific program vary in structure and type.

Stocker cattle refer to the beef cattle between the weaning and finishing stages when they add an extra 200 to 400 pounds to reach their mature weight so they are ready for slaughter.

Stocker calves are developed on high quality forages until they enter the feedlot.
They may be produced as a preliminary phase before a cattle feeding operation.

Most producers maintain cow herds and produce calves for sale at about seven to ten months. When calves sold they go to stocker buyers who grow them until they are ready to enter the feedlots for fattening.

Stocker cattle represent an important segment of the beef production and marketing chain.

Finished weight depends on breed; most grass fed cattle breeds are finished at about 1000 to 1200 pounds. Stocker cattle typically weight between 400 and 600 pounds when they are purchased after weaning.

Stocker operations have more flexibility than cow-calf operations because they do not have to wait out their cattle’s natural breeding and nursing cycles to buy or sell animals.

The core components of stocker production include nutrition, pasture management, quality assurance and animal health, marketing and risk management, genetics, and business management.
Stocker cattle