Introduction
In a previous article, we explored the world´s top 10 beef-producing countries. In this article, the USA leads the ranking with an astonishing 12,9 million tons of beef produced and a total herd of around 92,1 million animals. Compared to Brazil, second in the ranking with 10.4 million tons of beef produced and a herd of 193,8 million animals, the productive efficiency in the US is much higher. In fact, this is where the world’s largest beef cattle operations are located.
Ranking the top 10 largest single-location beef operations in the world is not an easy task, especially due to lack of verifiable data and ambiguous information. In this article, we focus on the largest beef cattle farms by herd number (animal capacity). Most of them are located in the US and are owned by the same company: Five Rivers Cattle Feeding.
With a total one time feeding capacity exceeding 865,000 head and marketing over 1.8 million cattle annually, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding stands as the world’s largest cattle feeding operation. Its legacy dates back to the 1960s, when the founder, Warren Monfort introduced flaked corn diets and built a 100,000 head feedyard. Today, Five Rivers Cattle Feeding continues to lead the industry in scalability, technology, and sustainability. With a total of 13 farms, we will be focusing on the top 10.
1. McElhaney Feedyard (115,000 head) – Wellton, Arizona
Completed in 1963, McElhaney is a flagship facility with modern manure-to-energy initiatives. It participates in environmental projects through partnerships with CSU and AgNext to convert manure into renewable fuel and organic fertilizers. Its remote desert location helps optimize water usage—most feedyards, including McElhaney, are strategically placed in low-precipitation areas for better control over water use, particularly in terms of irrigation and runoff management.
2. Yuma Feedlot (105,000 head) – Yuma, Colorado
Highlighting Five Rivers' commitment to workforce training and innovation, Yuma hosts agricultural student internships and uses digital record keeping for precision health management. These practices boost operational efficiency and animal welfare, forming part of the company’s integrated management philosophy.
3. Grant County Feeders & Kuner Feedlot (98,000 head each) – Colorado
Both yards are examples of strong biosecurity and management excellence. Kuner recently executed a mock Secure Beef Supply biosecurity event, involving USDA veterinary teams—an essential defense against diseases like Foot-and-Mouth. Grand County mirrors these protocols to maintain high health standards to ensure cattle and consumer safety.
4. Grande Lago (85,000 head) – Brazil
With a one-time capacity of ~85,000 head and annual throughput up to 180,000 cattle, Grande Lago (CDM Group) is the largest beef cattle operation in Brazil and Latin America. Grande Lago is designed as a high-throughput, professionally managed operation with a strong focus on sustainability through nutrient recycling. This farm reflects Brazil’s increasing shift toward feedlot finishing in a traditionally pasture-based system.
5. a) XIT Feeders (75,000 head) – Kansas
XIT applies industry-leading feeding regimes, combining nutrition science with real-time tracking to optimize growth performance. Its integration of digital performance dashboards helps maintain uniform gain rates and feed efficiency to Five Rivers’ data-driven operational model.
5. b) Grassdale (75,000 head, Mort & Co) – Dalby, Queensland
Grassdale is the biggest beef cattle operation in Australia. Licensed for 70,000 Standard Cattle Units (SCU), equivalent to about 75,000 head of cattle, with daily stocking and exit of 3,800–4,500 head. This farm produces ~100,000 tons/year of manure that is processed into granulated organic fertilizer on-site—Australia’s first facility of its kind—and sold across eastern Australia. It has engaged in innovative feeding practices for methane reduction achieving a 52% cut in enteric emissions with no impact on cattle performance in a controlled trial.
5. c) Whyalla (75,000 head) – Texas/Beebo, Queensland
With a licensed capacity of 75,000 Standard Cattle Units (SCU), Whyalla’s current operation includes around 56,000 head on feed, expanding toward full capacity. It is recognized as one of Australia's most technically advanced beef cattle operations, with large fully shaded yards and low-stress handling systems for animal comfort. As a vertically integrated operation under NH Foods, this farm combines cutting-edge feedlot technology, breed-specific programs (Angus/Wagyu), and welfare infrastructure—ranked among the top three in Australia. Expanding toward full capacity, it remains pivotal in supplying premium grain fed beef to domestic and export markets.
Image source: Five Rivers Cattle Feeding
6. Hartley Feeders (74,000 head) – Texas
This yard balances economic, social, and environmental sustainability, as part of the three-pillar model that Five Rivers embeds across its operations. Along with employee well-being programs and community engagement, Hartley contributes to reducing antibiotic use through stewardship partnerships via the Beef Alliance.
7. Coronado Feeders (65,000 head) – Colorado
As one of the earliest Continental Grain (and later JBS) acquisitions, Coronado leverages decades of process standardization. Innovations include grain flaking and advanced feed formulas scaled to reduce finish times and greenhouse gas emissions.
8. Cimarron Feeders (64,500 head) - Colorado
A rural Colorado facility, Cimarron focuses heavily on workforce development and community investment. It’s part of outreach programs like Beef Sticks for Backpacks, providing weekend nutrition to food-insecure children—cementing Five Rivers’ social license to operate.
9. Gilcrest Feedlot (60,000 head) – Colorado
Gilcrest pioneers collaborated with CSU to develop cutting-edge manure and water management systems. These efforts contribute to manure-to-energy trials and improved manure storage efficiency—leading to reduced odor and enhanced nutrient utilization.
10. Colorado Beef (56,000 head) – Near Lamar, Colorado
Established in 1969, Colorado Beef combines historical feedlot design with 21st-century upgrades. Located in a semi-arid region, it applies water conservation methods and recirculates cattle yard wash water—critical in Five Rivers’ low-precipitation site strategy.
Closing remarks
As the global demand for high-quality, traceable beef continues to grow, the beef cattle operator sector has emerged as both a driver and a mirror of transformation in livestock farming. The operations featured in this article—led by Five Rivers Cattle Feeding in the U.S., Agropecuária Grande Lago in Brazil, and Grassdale and Whyalla in Australia—demonstrate that scale and sustainability are not mutually exclusive.
These beef catlle operations are no longer just finishing stations; they are hubs of technological innovation, environmental responsibility, and strategic supply chain integration. Whether it's methane-reducing feed additives in Queensland, renewable energy from manure in Arizona, or full vertical integration with Angus and Wagyu genetics in Australia, each operation contributes to a broader vision of a climate-smart, economically viable beef sector.
Take-Home Messages
- Large feedlots have the capacity to implement and test cutting-edge technologies—from emissions monitoring to digital bunk management—at scale, providing data and insights that shape the future of the industry.
- Sustainable management and practices like manure-to-fertilizer conversion, water recycling, feed sourcing within tight supply radii, and fully shaded pens reflect a deep commitment to animal welfare, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship.
- Leading operations, especially in Australia and Brazil, increasingly control the full value chain—from genetics to grain to grading—ensuring quality, traceability, and resilience in global markets.
- These operations reflect a shift from the “feed-and-finish” model to complex agricultural enterprises, actively engaged in R&D, workforce development, and global climate goals.
- Challenges and needs are specific and varied; there is no “one solution fits all” approach, but rather tailored assessments.
References
Five Rivers Locations. https://www.fiveriverscattle.com/locations/
Baczkowski, H. (2023). Australia's largest feedlot turns manure into fertiliser as Queensland business learns to manage its waste. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-10/largest-feedlot-turns-manure-into-fertiliser/102825490?utm
Five rivers views sustainability as a way of life. https://www.fiveriverscattle.com/sustainability/?utm
AgroPecuária Garnde Lago. About the Feedlot. https://www.plenaalimentos.com.br/en/feedlot/
Grassdale Feedlot is Australia’s largest feedlot, where scale and innovation combine to create a world leading facility. https://mortco.com.au/feedlots/grassdale/
Barker, E. Top 25 Lotfeeders: No 3 – NH Foods Whyalla Beef (2023). https://www.beefcentral.com/features/top-25-lot-feeders-2023/top-25-lotfeeders-no-3-nh-foods-whyalla-beef/
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