Why were feedlots built near grain-producing areas in the United States?

Feedlots were built near grain-producing areas in the United States primarily to maximize the efficiency and economic viability of beef production. Because grain is a critical component for achieving rapid weight gain and producing heavily marbled beef, locating operations near these sources reduced transportation costs and logistical challenges associated with moving large quantities of feed.1

The practice of finishing cattle on grain emerged in the 1800s when farmers discovered that surplus grain could be used to produce higher-quality, more profitable meat. As agricultural advancements in irrigation increased grain yields, the industry expanded, leading to the concentration of feedlots and slaughterhouses in grain-rich regions. Since the 1970s, many of these operations have been concentrated in the High Plains of states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado, where the dry climate was also found to be ideal for fattening cattle.1