Feedlot beef production - finishing cattle in confined feeding areas - is the dominant model in the US, Australia, and parts of South America. Its welfare implications affect millions of animals annually.
Feedlot production concentrates multiple welfare challenges simultaneously. High-grain diets cause rumen acidosis that ranges from subclinical to acutely painful. Respiratory disease affects a significant proportion of feedlot cattle and is the primary welfare and mortality concern. Heat stress in pens without shade causes significant suffering during summer. The absence of pasture denies natural grazing and movement behaviours. Welfare improvement in feedlots requires addressing these multiple issues through better pen design, dietary management, disease prevention, and environmental modifications that reduce heat stress.