The Be ef Lifecycle

FEEDYARD Cattle spend 4-6 months at a feedyard

being fed a scientifically-balanced diet and receiving daily care. Some

spend the rest of their lives on a pasture being grass finished.

Retailers and foodservice operators sell beef in SUPERMARKETS AND RESTAURANTS.

Due to strong demand for U.S. beef, beef is EXPORTED TO MORE

THAN 130 OTHER COUNTRIES.

Beef helps nourish the bodies of MILLIONS OF AMERICANS

by providing 10 essential nutrients.

STOCKERS AND BACKGROUNDERS Between 6-12 months of age cattle spend

time at stocker and backgrounder farms and ranches where they graze on a variety of

pastures. Here they gain weight and convert forage and grass into lean protein.

LIVESTOCK AUCTION MARKETS Many calves leave the farm or ranch

where they were born and are sold at livestock auction markets to stockers and

backgrounders between 6-12 months of age.

WEANING Beef calves are weaned away from their

mothers between 6-8 months of age.

CALVES FOR SALE

COW-CALF Cows are bred and calves are born and raised every year on cow-calf farms and ranches, spending time grazing on grass pastures within

sight of their mothers.

PACKING PLANT Cattle are sent to a packer/processing facility to be slaughtered and processed then distributed

to supermarket retailers and restaurants.

WHEAT

SOYBEAN MEAL

MOLASSES

GRASSES/HAY

CORN

BEEF