Livestock

Farmed Cattle Feedlot Welfare and Alternatives

Feedlot beef production raises significant welfare concerns around confinement and rapid growth.

Key Facts

US feedlots hold up to 100,000 cattle in confined conditions
Feedlot cattle stand on concrete or packed earth without pasture access
Rapid growth diets cause digestive disorders including bloat and acidosis
Mortality rates in feedlots can reach 2-3% per cycle

Welfare Considerations

Feedlot cattle cannot engage in grazing, exploration, or normal social behaviour across adequate space. Rapid growth diets cause chronic digestive discomfort and liver disease. Heat stress, respiratory disease, and lameness are all elevated in feedlot conditions. Grass-fed and pasture-finished alternatives provide substantially better welfare outcomes.

What You Can Do

Choose grass-fed, pasture-raised beef products
Reduce beef consumption overall, particularly from feedlot sources
Support reforms requiring outdoor access for beef cattle
Advocate for elimination of routine antibiotic use in feedlots