It's America's largest cattle feedlot — see it from the air!

Blackshirt Feeders is reshaping the scale of cattle feeding in the U.S., with an eye to becoming the largest feedlot in operation — by a fair margin — by 2027. Located near Haigler, NE, the Canadian-owned operation currently has 73,000 head on feed, with plans to reach nearly 100,000 head capacity by year’s end and ultimately grow to 200,000 by 2027. Operations manager Trevor Thompson says the design is all about efficiency and precision, with every aspect of the feedlot designed to cater to the cattle, not the other way around. A centralized feed mill means trucks run efficient routes and staff are where they should be when needed, Thompson says. The care of the cattle are at the heart of the design, with full redundancy built into the feed mill to ensure uninterrupted feed flow. All pens sit on rolled concrete to improve hygiene which, in turn, supports peak animal performance. “Every square inch is usable space,” says Thompson, noting that the smooth, sloped surface of the pens allows for quick cleaning, better drainage, and reduced odour. Technology and data collection are central to Blackshirt’s workflow. Computerized chutes record weights, temperatures, and animal condition, with veterinarians remotely monitoring the data in real-time. The yard’s future also includes an anaerobic digester to turn manure into renewable natural gas, completing a sustainable production cycle. Beyond the feedlot, Blackshirt’s growth is fuelling local prosperity, Thompson says. New homes, busy restaurants, and expanding services in Haigler reflect the yard’s economic impact. For Thompson, it’s about progress and community pride: “We’re figuring out what we’re doing today, how we can be better tomorrow...it just makes it a fun environment to work around.” Website: https://www.realagriculture.com/ #cattle #farming #ranching #beef #agriculture Find us on our other social media platforms: X/Twitter:   / realagriculture   Instagram:   / realagriculture   Facebook:   / realagmedia