Traditionally, cattle are finished (or fattened) on grain-based diets. In fact, about 95% of cattle in the United States are finished this way. The reason behind this practice is that as cattle become older, they become less efficient making it more difficult for them to convert feed to muscle or meat. Grain has more energy than forage (grass, hay, etc.) so allows cattle to maintain higher growth rates. Additionally, feeding grain concentrates cattle in a smaller area which frees up land for other uses. Even though cattle may be finished on grain, they spend most of their lives on pasture or hay. It isn’t until the last 4 to 6 months of their life that they are moved into a feedlot for a finishing diet.
- Different regions use different production systems for many reasons: climate, landscape, amount of land owned, number of livestock; the list can really go on and on. In an area like Colorado, for instance, it is common to let cattle forage on large tracts of land over the summer and then supplement their diets with hay and grains over the winter. In areas where the climate is more uniform, they might have grasses growing all year round and do not have to supplement the cattle's diets. This is a little different but is the same idea; New Zealand is known for its lamb quality and quantity. The farmers there are so successful because their climate is suitable for the livestock they are raising; grain feeding is much more efficient. It takes much less time for cattle to reach their potential and much less space, as they do not need room to roam and graze. It is ideal for mass production and is much more cost-effective, which can pass savings on to consumers. There is a cattle farmer in Texas who finishes their cattle on carrots. It apparently leads to the beef having a much more complex flavor.