Canada's First Feedlot Benchmark: 9 Lessons Every Cattle Producer Should Know Canadian feedlot benchmark

For years, cattle producers have had access to individual farm experience, regional information and cow-calf benchmarks. But the Canadian feedlot sector had been missing something important: a national benchmark showing how feedlots compare with one another.

That changed with a new national survey involving 87 Canadian feedlots across seven provinces.

The benchmark provides a snapshot of feeding, grain processing, receiving protocols and growth-technology use across Canadian backgrounding and finishing operations. The findings do not provide a single recipe for every feedlot, but they do highlight where Canadian operations are aligned—and where management practices differ.

Here are nine important lessons cattle producers can take from the data.

Benchmarking Gives Producers a Better Point of Comparison

One of the biggest benefits of the Canadian feedlot benchmark is simple:

producers finally have a broader reference point.

Benchmarking means comparing production and management practices with other operations to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

Benchmarking Gives Producers a Better Point of Comparison

One of the biggest benefits of the Canadian feedlot benchmark is simple: producers finally have a broader reference point.

Benchmarking means comparing production and management practices with other operations to identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement.

The 2026 survey collected responses from 87 feedlots across seven provinces and different capacity ranges.

That matters because feedlot performance cannot be evaluated properly in isolation.

A producer may know how much feed is being used on their own farm, but without comparable information, it can be difficult to determine whether a particular practice is common, unusual or worth investigating.

The new benchmark creates a starting point for those conversations.

Quick answer

Why does feedlot benchmarking matter?

It gives Canadian cattle producers a reference point for comparing management practices, identifying gaps and deciding where improvements may have the greatest potential impact.

The survey was led by researchers from the Universities of Saskatchewan, Guelph and Manitoba, in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and industry organizations.

Feed Grains Differ Across Canada

Canada is not one uniform cattle-feeding region.

The benchmark showed clear regional differences in the primary grains used in feedlot diets.

Corn was reported as the primary feed grain in Eastern Canada, while barley predominated in Western Canada, with increasing use of corn and wheat.

Why does that matter?

Because cattle feeding decisions are influenced by:

• regional grain availability

• grain prices

• transportation costs

• processing options

• nutrient composition

• storage

• feedlot infrastructure

• ration requirements

  
  

A grain that makes economic sense in one region may not have the same advantage somewhere else.

Ontario producers, for example, operate in a different grain environment from many Western Canadian feedlots.

That means the best cattle feed program is not necessarily the one being used by the operation hundreds or thousands of kilometres away.

Byproducts Are Already a Major Part of Canadian Feedlot Diets

One of the most interesting findings from the benchmark is the widespread use of feed byproducts.

According to the survey, 85.4% of participating feedlots reported including byproducts in cattle diets.

Common examples included:

• distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS)

• corn-based products

• wheat-based products

• potatoes

• grain screenings

• other agricultural or processing byproducts

  
  

Why are producers interested in these ingredients?

Feed costs represent one of the largest expenses in cattle production, so finding nutritionally useful ingredients that can improve ration economics can be important.

However, cheaper does not automatically mean better.

The nutritional value, consistency, moisture level, handling characteristics and appropriate inclusion rate all need to be considered.

Ontario's livestock nutrition guidance emphasizes that feed ingredients should be evaluated for nutritional value and consistency before they are incorporated into rations.

The key lesson: A byproduct should be evaluated as a feed ingredient—not simply selected because it has a lower purchase price.

Grain Processing Deserves More Attention

Grain processing can have a major effect on how effectively cattle utilize dietary starch and energy.

The benchmark found three major grain-processing approaches among surveyed feedlots:

• Dry rolling — 36%

• High-moisture storage — 34%

• Temper rolling — 14%

  
  

But there was another finding that deserves attention.

Only 24.5% of respondents reported using processing index, percentage of fines or both to evaluate grain processing, while another 22.2% relied primarily on visual assessment.

That suggests an opportunity for better measurement.

A load of processed grain may look acceptable visually, but appearance alone does not necessarily tell the entire story.

Measuring processing performance can help producers better understand:

• starch utilization

• feed efficiency

• grain consistency

• percentage of fines

• cattle performance

• digestive-risk management

  
  

Ontario beef nutrition guidance similarly emphasizes that feed characteristics and ration formulation affect how effectively cattle utilize different feed ingredients.

Feed Efficiency Starts With More Than the Price of Grain

When feed costs increase, it can be tempting to focus entirely on the price paid per tonne.

But the lowest-cost ingredient is not automatically the lowest-cost feeding program.

Producers should consider the bigger picture:

ingredient cost + nutrient value + processing + intake + waste + animal performance.

A feed ingredient that costs less but produces poor feed efficiency may not actually save money.

Likewise, a higher-priced ingredient could potentially make economic sense if it contributes to better nutrient utilization or cattle performance.

This is why ration formulation is so important.

Ontario's beef cattle nutrition guidance explains that properly formulated rations should supply adequate nutrients for the desired production level while considering factors such as cattle class, body weight, body condition, production stage and available feed nutrients.

Receiving Protocols Are a Major Part of Feedlot Management

Feedlot nutrition does not begin and end at the feed bunk.

What happens when cattle arrive can influence the management program that follows.

The benchmark showed relatively consistent use of receiving practices across regions and feedlot sizes.

Among survey respondents:

• 95.7% reported always or sometimes deworming incoming cattle, depending on risk group.

  
  

• 98.5% reported always or sometimes vaccinating for bovine respiratory disease.

  
  

• 89.7% reported administering antibiotic treatment for bovine respiratory disease upon arrival, depending on their protocol and cattle risk group.

  
  

These figures demonstrate that receiving management is an important component of modern feedlot operations.

However, cattle are not identical.

Risk level, previous management, source, health status, age and nutritional background can all affect how incoming animals should be managed.

Producers should work with their veterinarian and nutrition professional when developing health and receiving protocols.

Feedlot Size Can Affect Technology Adoption

Another major finding was the relationship between feedlot size and adoption of growth-enhancing technologies.

Across all surveyed feedlots:

• 82.6% reported using hormonal implants.

• 94.4% reported using ionophores.

• 52.8% reported incorporating beta-adrenergic agonists.

  
  

But adoption was substantially lower among feedlots with fewer than 500 head.

Among those smaller operations:

• 42.1% reported implant use.

• 75% reported ionophore use.

• None reported beta-agonist use.

  
  

  This does not mean that every operation should adopt every available technology.

Instead, the finding demonstrates that feedlot size, management systems and technology adoption can be connected.

The right decision depends on cattle type, production goals, economics, management capability, regulations and professional advice.

Different Cattle Enter Feedlots With Different Needs

Not every animal arriving at a feedlot has the same nutritional background.

The benchmark showed that participating operations reported feeding several different cattle types, including:

• weaned calves

• backgrounded calves

• grass-fed yearlings

• dairy and dairy-cross calves

• cull cows

• cull bulls

Weaned calves were reported by 66.7% of feedlots, while backgrounded calves were reported by 52.6% and grasser yearlings by 50%.

That diversity matters.

A recently weaned calf coming from one management system may require a different transition strategy than a heavier yearling already accustomed to a higher-energy ration.

This is another reason why one-size-fits-all cattle feed programs can be problematic.

Ration decisions should account for:

animal type + weight + previous diet + health status + production stage + target performance.

The Biggest Opportunity May Be Better Measurement

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the Canadian feedlot benchmark is not that one feeding method is universally better than another.

It is that producers need reliable information to make better decisions.

The survey found clear differences in:

• grain selection

• grain processing

• byproduct use

• feedlot size

• receiving protocols

• growth-technology adoption

  
  

  The benchmark also highlighted areas where measurement is less common, particularly in evaluating grain processing.

That creates an opportunity.

Instead of asking:

“What is everyone else doing?”

A better question may be:

“What does the data from my own operation tell me?”

Track the numbers that matter.

Depending on your operation, that may include:

• feed intake

• average daily gain

• feed conversion

• mortality

• morbidity

• ration consistency

• grain-processing results

• shrink

• feed waste

• cost per unit of gain

• cattle performance

  
  

Better measurement can turn feeding decisions from assumptions into management decisions.

What Does This Mean for Ontario Cattle Producers?

For producers in Ontario, the national benchmark is useful because it provides a broader Canadian perspective while still leaving room for regional differences.

Ontario cattle producers have access to different grain supplies, feed ingredients and processing options than producers in Western Canada.

Ontario's livestock nutrition resources also emphasize the importance of understanding nutrient composition, feed analysis and proper ration formulation.

That means Ontario producers should consider their own:

cattle + available feeds + local prices + ration requirements + management system + production goals.

For Southwestern Ontario operations, including producers around Chatham-Kent and Blenheim, local feed availability and practical storage considerations can also influence feeding decisions.

What Should You Look for When Buying Cattle Feed?

Whether you operate a commercial feedlot, backgrounding program or smaller livestock operation, don't evaluate feed based on price alone.

Consider:

1. Animal class

Is the feed designed for calves, growing cattle, finishing cattle or another production stage?

2. Nutrient profile

Look beyond crude protein and consider the overall ration, including energy, fibre, minerals and other relevant nutrients.

3. Ingredient quality

Know what you are feeding and consider consistency between batches.

4. Processing

For grain-based rations, understand how the grain is processed and whether processing quality is being monitored.

5. Storage

Poor storage can reduce feed quality and increase waste.

6. Feed efficiency

The real question is not simply how much the feed costs.

It is how effectively cattle convert the feeding program into productive gain.

How Can Feedlots Improve Feeding Efficiency?

Start with the basics.

Review your ration.

Make sure the ration matches the cattle being fed and the target production level.

Monitor feed intake.

Changes in intake can provide important clues about cattle health, weather, feed quality and ration management.

Measure processing.

Don't rely exclusively on visual appearance when objective measurements are available.

Control waste.

Spilled or spoiled feed is money that never reaches the animal.

Analyze feed when necessary.

Ontario guidance notes that feed analysis is an important step in understanding nutrient value and developing properly balanced livestock rations.

Review performance regularly.

A feeding program should be evaluated based on cattle performance and economics—not simply ingredient price.

What Cattle Feed Products Are Available at Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies?

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies serves livestock producers in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities.

The store carries livestock feed and farm supplies from established feed manufacturers, including Masterfeeds and Jones Feed Mills, with products suitable for different livestock feeding needs.

Depending on your cattle operation and feeding program, available livestock-feed options can be explored through the store's farm feed selection.

If you're unsure which cattle feed best matches your animals, production stage or feeding goals, contact Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies before choosing a product.

Need Help Choosing Cattle Feed in Southwestern Ontario?

Choosing cattle feed is not simply about finding the lowest price per bag or tonne.

The better question is:

Does this feed fit my cattle, my ration, my management system and my production goals?

For producers around Chatham, Blenheim and Chatham-Kent, Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies can help you explore available livestock-feed options.

Call/Text: 226-774-0933

Call/Text: 519-350-5804

FAQs

What is the Canadian feedlot benchmark?

The Canadian feedlot benchmark is a national survey of 87 feedlots across seven provinces examining practices such as feed grains, byproduct use, grain processing, receiving protocols and growth-technology adoption.

What grain is most commonly used in Canadian feedlots?

The benchmark found that corn was the primary feed grain reported in Eastern Canada, while barley predominated in Western Canada, with increasing use of corn and wheat.

How common is byproduct use in Canadian feedlots?

The survey found that 85.4% of participating feedlots reported using byproducts in cattle diets. Examples included DDGS, potatoes, grain screenings and corn- or wheat-based products.

Why is grain processing important for cattle feed?

Grain processing affects how cattle utilize dietary starch and energy. Measuring processing quality can help producers evaluate consistency and potentially improve feed efficiency while managing digestive risks.

Should cattle feed be selected based only on protein percentage?

No. Protein is important, but cattle diets need to be evaluated as complete rations. Animal class, weight, production stage, energy requirements, minerals, available ingredients and management goals all influence ration formulation.

Why is feed analysis important?

Feed analysis helps producers understand the nutrient value of feed ingredients and supports more accurate ration formulation. Ontario guidance recommends analyzing feed sources when determining their nutritional value and suitability.

What is the best cattle feed for Ontario?

There is no single feed that is best for every Ontario operation. The appropriate feed depends on cattle type, production stage, forage quality, available ingredients, ration formulation and production goals.

Where can I buy cattle feed near Chatham, Ontario?

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies serves producers in Blenheim, Chatham-Kent and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities with livestock feed and farm supplies.