Feedlot finishing of beef cattle concentrates animals for rapid growth before slaughter. The welfare implications of confinement, diet change, and social disruption require attention.
Feedlot finishing represents a significant welfare challenge that affects hundreds of millions of cattle globally. The transition from pasture or rangeland to feedlot confinement involves multiple simultaneous stressors — transport, new social groups, dietary shift to high-energy rations, and loss of space. The high rates of bovine respiratory disease in feedlots reflect the immunosuppressive effects of these combined stressors. Once established in the feedlot system, cattle lack access to behaviors important for their welfare including grazing, ranging, and escape from social conflict. Pain management, shade, and disease prevention protocols can significantly improve feedlot welfare within the constraints of the system.