Feedlot beef production, dominant in North America and growing globally, raises significant welfare concerns about space, enrichment, and health management.
Feedlot environments often provide inadequate space, shade, and environmental complexity for cattle welfare needs. Liver abscesses from acidosis are painful and widespread. Respiratory disease from dust and pathogen load in crowded pens causes significant morbidity. As global beef demand continues, improving feedlot welfare through space requirements, shade provision, and health management is both necessary and achievable.