Examining welfare conditions in intensive cattle feedlot systems and what regulatory and industry standards apply internationally.
Feedlot cattle welfare represents one of the largest welfare challenges in animal agriculture due to the scale of the industry and the structural features of the production system that compromise welfare. High-grain diets that cause subacute ruminal acidosis, restricted movement that prevents normal locomotive behaviour, and crowding that creates social stress are features of the production system, not exceptional incidents. Welfare improvements require both better regulatory standards and industry incentives that reward welfare outcomes beyond the minimum threshold. The most tractable improvements include shade provision, grain introduction management to prevent acidosis, and respiratory disease monitoring and treatment protocols.