Beef production is the largest sector of agriculture in Nebraska, and Nebraska is the only state that is a national leader in every aspect of beef production: cow/calf, backgrounding, corn growing, cattle feeding and processing. Calves born on one of Nebraska’s 17,000 cow/calf ranches typically spend the majority of their lives on grass before being sent to a feedlot for finishing. Cattle typically spend 3-6 months in the feedlot being fed a balanced ration of corn, forages, distillers grains, and vitamin and mineral supplements. Corn feeding allows Nebraska producers to get greater marbling and tenderness in the final beef product.