Colorado Reader March 2019: The Story of Colorado Beef | Page 5

LIVESTOCK AUCTION MARKETS:
After weaning and/or during the stocker and backgrounder phase, many
calves leave the farm or ranch where they were born. They may be sold
at livestock auction markets, typically between 6-12 months of age.
FEEDYARD:
Mature cattle are often moved to feedyards. Here cattle typically
spend four to six months. They are free to eat at feed bunks. The
feed is a carefully balanced diet made up of roughage and grain.
Roughage can be hay and grass. Grains include corn, wheat
and soybean meal. Veterinarians, nutritionists and caretakers
work together to provide individual care for each animal.
PACKING PLANT:
Cattle reach market weight around 1,200 to 1,400 pounds at 18 to 22
months of age. They are then sent to a packing plant (also called a
processing facility). United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
inspectors oversee safety, animal welfare and quality standards. Their goal
is to make sure all standards are met. There are strict standards from the
time animals enter the plant until the final beef products are shipped to
grocery stores and restaurants. (Source BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com)
Beef cattle in a feedyard. They are
eating at a bunk, which is a long
trough for feeding cattle. The
bunk in this picture is made from
cement. Bunks can also be made
from wood, steel, pipe and plastic.
Ranchers are also grass farmers. The better they are able to manage their
grasses, the better they are able to care for their cattle. When animals eat grass
it is called grazing. Grazing supplies over half of the food cattle eat. The cows
and calves in this picture are grazing a pasture in Eastern Colorado.

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