Intensive cattle feedlots confine cattle in crowded pens to accelerate weight gain, creating welfare challenges related to behaviour restriction, disease, and environmental conditions.
Feedlot systems prioritise rapid weight gain and cost efficiency over animal welfare. Cattle in feedlots cannot engage in natural grazing behaviour and have limited space to move. Dusty or muddy pen conditions cause respiratory problems and lameness. Agonistic encounters are frequent in crowded conditions. The transition from pasture to high-grain feedlot diets causes digestive disorders including acidosis and bloat. Welfare-conscious alternatives include pasture-finished systems that allow cattle to express natural behaviour throughout their lives.