Backgrounding is an intermediate stage sometimes used in
cattle production which begins after
weaning and ends upon placement in a
feedlot. Background feeding relies more heavily on
forage (e.g.,
pasture,
hay) in combination with
grains
A grain is a small, hard, dry fruit ( caryopsis) – with or without an attached hull layer – harvested for human or animal consumption. A grain crop is a grain-producing plant. The two main types of commercial grain crops are cereals and le ...
to increase a
calf's weight by several hundred pounds and to build up immunity to diseases before putting them in a feedlot in preparation for slaughter. Some cattle operations specialize in backgrounding.
See also
* ''
Cattle § Terminology''
References
Cattle
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