Lubbock Feeders closing 

(Photo by Lukas Kosc via Pexels.)

West Texas’ Lubbock Feeders, a 50,000-head feedlot, has announced it will close its gates after nearly 70 years in operation and more than 5 million head of cattle fed, according to National Beef Wire. The facility, opened in 1955, is expected to close as soon as the current contracted cattle inventories are fed and finished.  

The reason for the closure is two-fold: a closed Mexican border and historic low cattle numbers. Mexican cattle had made up 60 to 70% of Lubbock Feeders inventory for years prior to the reemergence of New World screwworm in Mexico several years ago.  

In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture closed the Mexican border due to concerns of spreading NWS to the beef herd in the United States, Lubbock Feeders were faced with major supply challenges. The feedlot was already struggling with the low numbers cattle the rest of the U.S. was, but this decision immediately reduced most of its cattle inventory overnight. 

Continued reports of NWS in Mexico have prevented the USDA from reopening the border, and with the smallest U.S. calf crop since 1941, the ownership at Lubbock Feeders felt closure with their only option. Lubbock Feeders manager and CEO Kyle Williams said the decision to close was difficult because it ended a multi-generation feedlot business and left long-time employees and partners without their jobs.  

Lacey Vilhauer can be reached at 620-227-1871 or [email protected].