What is the process by which cattle are fed a high-grain diet to prepare for market called?

The process by which cattle are fed a high-grain diet to prepare them for market is called finishing. During finishing, cattle are typically transitioned from a pasture or forage-based diet to a high-energy grain diet. This dietary change is aimed at increasing the animal's weight and improving the quality of the meat produced. The high-grain diet helps to enhance muscle mass and fat deposition, resulting in a more desirable carcass for market. This stage is crucial for achieving optimal growth rates before slaughter, allowing producers to maximize both the quality and quantity of the meat.

Other terms, like weaning, refer to the process of separating calves from their mothers, which is an earlier stage of cattle management. Calving is the act of giving birth to calves, while stocking involves determining the number of animals that can graze or be kept on a specific piece of land. While these processes are important in livestock management, they do not relate to the specific goal of preparing cattle for market by altering their diet.