He believes that cattle deserve the best care possible, consumers expect humane care, and happy animals produce better. To convey how the health and comfort of beef cattle are protected, Dr. Smith described production practices each step of the way to and at the feedlot. Weaning takes place at approximately 205 days of age, but anywhere from seven to eight months. The animal usually weighs slightly over 500 pounds. Many recently weaned calves spend time in a backgrounding yard, where they are treated for parasites, vaccinated and managed through any respiratory problems.
Many calves then go to a stocker operation or feedlot.
Stocker calves are at the stage between weaning and the feedlot, when the animal is grown primarily on a forage diet of wheat and grass. Many steers and heifers do not enter the feedlot until they are yearlings, or one year of age. Typical feedlots resemble small cities. Pen riders on horseback oversee the cattle's condition. Most feedlots use a night watchman to monitor the cattle and activities while the regular crew is off duty.