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. A crew trained by consulting veterinarians assists in evaluating the condition of a sick or injured steer or heifer. A veterinarian and nutritionist regularly visit the typical feedlot. An agricultural engineer, entomologist, and economist are used occasionally.