Retained ownership of ranch calves consistently makes more money for cattlemen when the calves are sold as finished cattle in the March to May time frame (CattleFax). Decatur adds another layer of profit potential with the way we manage your cattle. Each management practice is designed to protect and grow your investment, while minimizing your overhead.

More Experience

We have the longest-running, most sophisticated electronic cattle management system in the country — in operation since 1994. Since then, we have managed more than 600,000 cattle in our system. We are constantly reviewing and updating our own practices to keep your costs down and push your profits up.

Low-Stress Processing

Upon arrival at Decatur, your animals are processed just one time, and within 24 hours. This process makes for the most calming, least disruptive adjustment for your herd, which supports early weight gain.

Consistent Care

We treat your cattle as if they were our own, which means at least once-daily observation by an experienced pen rider, good drainage, and ample space to roam.

Affordable Feed

Decatur is located in Oberlin, Kansas, near the southwest corner of Nebraska. We are close to ethanol plants and affordable corn, with easy access to an abundant feed supply. Our local connections allow us to lock in corn prices, minimizing your feed costs and boosting your feed efficiency.

Top-Notch Nutrition

Decatur’s nutrition program was formulated by certified nutritionist Wally Koers, Ph.D. in animal science. Our feed consists mainly of corn, alfalfa hay, and wet distillers grain. The program ensures that your cattle get highly nutritious feed at the proper amount — not too much or too little.

Feed Efficiency

Standard feed costs to take a steer from 650 to 1,200 pounds can vary by $300. We control these costs with feeding programs based on animal characteristics measured on arrival. Feed efficiency is carefully monitored by individual animal. This saves you money up front (by lowering feed costs) and makes you more money at sale time (because cattle are neither overfed nor underfed). The result is a low cost of gain while still realizing each animal’s potential.