Final answer:
Finishing cattle involves understanding sustainable raising methods, feedlot diets, and grass-feeding benefits. Cattle ranching is prominent in less agriculturally profitable areas, with sustainability becoming increasingly important due to its environmental impact and contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Step-by-step explanation:
For achieving finishing cattle production targets, it's crucial to understand various methods of cattle raising and the implications they have on sustainability. Cattle that grazed on open lands are often rounded up and placed in feedlots, where they are fed on a diet of inexpensive corn and silage, sometimes supplemented with grass to achieve a desired market weight. Grass-fed beef often commands a higher market price due to perceived health benefits and taste preferences.
In regions where traditional agriculture is less profitable, such as arid or hilly areas, cattle ranching becomes a significant agricultural practice, with states like Texas, Nebraska, and California leading in production. However, agricultural practices like cattle farming have a substantial carbon footprint and are responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, sustainability programs are being instituted, such as those in Brazil's beef industry, to improve ranch management and reduce environmental impact.
Moreover, strategic managing of rangelands and livestock, particularly in areas affected by climate change, is essential for ecological function and carbon sequestration. One example is the Van Vleck Ranch in California, which uses careful grazing management to maintain soil health and biodiversity.
Understanding the history of the cattle industry, environmental impact, and current sustainability challenges is imperative for those finishing cattle, both for market success and ecological responsibility.