Washington Cattle Feeders

Washington is home to a small community of professional cattle feedyards. While the number of businesses and cattle represented by this sector are modest (especially in comparison to top producing states), the economic and social impacts locally are strong. Cattle feeding is an integral part of Washington's agriculture and food production web. Feedyards are positioned near to food processing infrastructure, whereby cattle consume byproducts, and prevent waste in the production of other food and beverages that begin with locally grown commodities and specialty crops.

These cattle feedyards support hundreds of Washington cow-calf operations (ranches where calves ready to be fed come from). Washington's economy and local food system benefit from cattle feedyards and processing plants operating here. Two significant beef processing facilities are located in eastern Washington in close proximity to the majority of cattle feedyards. The combination of having all three specialized sectors of beef production - ranches, feedyards, and major processing facilities, makes cattle the third largest agriculture commodity in terms of state GDP.

Washington State University conducted an economic analysis report in 2014 and 2019, to quantify the economic impact of beef production in Washington. Access the Executive Summary and the Full Report to learn more. See some statistics from the report at a glance: