A1116 - Operation of feedlots, other livestock yards (voluntary)

Operational Details
Livestock yard or feedlot owners are in the business to purchase young stock, usually cattle, at or around 600 lbs., and feeding them, a more-or-less, forced diet containing essential food supplements and vitamins in order to increase their weight so they can be sold for a profit at the end of the growing season. The livestock is usually purchased from local farmers or purchased at auction houses. The feedlot or stock yard owners may dehorn the livestock, vaccinate, and water and feed the stock throughout their stay in their pens or corral compounds. The stock is usually sold to a meat packer, a livestock dealer, or sold at auction houses.

Unless a very large operation, transportation will be hired to transport the stock either from the previous owner, or to the customer. Some incidental growing of feed may be undertaken, however, almost all of the necessary feed is purchased from farmers and ranching operations as the quantities required often are too great to provide on their own. This is a labour intensive operation as well. Cleaning corrals or pens, loading and unloading of the livestock, vaccinating, or feeding must all be done by hand. Front end loaders and tractors are commonly used in this industry and manure spreaders and wagons are also used.

SIC Codes
​000000015 - Operation of feedlots (voluntary)
000000016 - Operation of livestock yard (voluntary)