Feedlots

The cattle feedlot industry has a value of production of approximately $2.5 billion and employs some 28,500 people directly and indirectly (Australian Lot Feeders’ Association 2015).

There are around 450 accredited feedlots throughout Australia with the majority located in areas that are in close proximity to cattle and grain supplies.

Queensland is the largest state in terms of cattle numbers on feed with approximately 60% followed by New South Wales with 30%, Victoria with 7% and the remainder shared between South Australia and Western Australia.

The feedlot sector has grown over the past 20 years. The ability to deliver consistency with respect to quality and quantity (regardless of seasons) is a desirable trait for customers in both domestic and international markets. Approximately 40% of Australia’s total beef supply and 80% of beef sold in major domestic supermarkets is sourced from the cattle feedlot sector.

Two thirds of Australia’s beef production is exported to over 100 international markets. Australia’s hard won reputation as a supplier of ‘clean, green, disease free’ beef backed by strong industry systems and brands is a strong selling point in the highly competitive markets in which we operate.

The Australian Lot Feeders’ Association is the national industry organisation. Meat & Livestock also provides feedlot and beef market updates, trends and analysis. Feedlots are accredited under the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme.

Topics covered on this page:

• Feedlot design, construction and waste management
• Animal health and welfare
• Animal nutrition
• Feedlot management

Feedlot design, construction and waste management

• Cattle feedlots, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Feedlot industry investment: a practical view of production, management and financial economics of lot-fed cattle (YouTube)

Animal health and welfare

• Animal welfare
• Controlling Bovine Respiratory Disease in feedlot cattle (PDF, 343KB), Meat & Livestock Australia
• Controlling buffalo fly on intensive beef and dairy properties, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Heat load in feedlot cattle (PDF, 853KB), Meat & Livestock Australia
• Integrated pest management for nuisance flies on cattle feedlots, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Nuisance flies on cattle feedlots – key research findings, Meat & Livestock Australia

Animal nutrition

• Expanded use of molasses for intensive beef cattle feeding (PDF, 291KB), Meat & Livestock Australia
• High-energy feed alternatives for the feedlot industry (PDF, 296KB), Meat & Livestock Australia
• Feed consumption and liveweight gain
• Feed processing
• Diet formulation
• Diet components

Feedlot management

• Managing beef cattle feedlots
• National guidelines for beef cattle feedlots in Australia (third edition) (PDF, 1MB), Meat & Livestock Australia
• Sampling manual for environmental monitoring by intensive livestock industries – download from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Opportunity feedlotting of beef cattle, Department of Primary Industries New South Wales
• Yard weaning methods for preparing feeder cattle (PDF, 285KB), Meat & Livestock Australia

Useful links

• National Beef Cattle Feedlot Environmental Code of Practice, Australian Lot Feeders’ Association and Meat & Livestock Australia  (download pdf from CSIRO Publishing)
• National Guidelines for Beef Cattle Feedlots in Australia – buy from CSIRO Publishing
• National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) in the Northern Territory
• NLIS and identification – cattle and buffalo, Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
• NLIS in Queensland, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines website
• Lotfeeding and intensive finishing, Meat & Livestock Australia
• Intensive livestock environmental management, Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
• Cooperative Research Centre for Beef Genetic Technologies (Beef CRC)

Multimedia

Feedlot industry investment

In this webinar David Brown, West Talgai Feedlot (Queensland) discusses feedlot industry investment – giving a practical view of production, management and financial economics of lotfed cattle. 35:41 minutes published 19 February 2012 by FutureBeefAu.