Feeder cattle
Encyclopedia
Feeder cattle are steers (castrated males) or heifers (females) mature enough to be placed in a feedlot
where they will be fattened prior to slaughter
. Feeder calves are less than 1 year old; feeder yearlings are between 1 and 2 years old. Both types are often produced in a cow-calf operation
.
Feedlot
A feedlot or feedyard is a type of animal feeding operation which is used in factory farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter. Large beef feedlots are called Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations . They...
where they will be fattened prior to slaughter
Slaughter
-Animals:* Animal slaughter, killing animals for food** Ritual slaughter, the practice of slaughtering livestock for meat in a ritual manner*** Dhabīḥah, the prescribed method of ritual slaughter of animals excluding camels, locusts, fish and most sea life in Islamic law*** Shechita, the ritual...
. Feeder calves are less than 1 year old; feeder yearlings are between 1 and 2 years old. Both types are often produced in a cow-calf operation
Cow-calf operation
A cow-calf operation is a method of raising beef cattle in which a permanent herd of cows is kept by a farmer or rancher to produce calves for later sale. Cow-calf operations are one of the key aspects of the beef industry in the United States and some other countries. In the British Isles, a...
.