The SA Feedlot industry started during the 1960’s by a few entrepreneur cattle farmers in the grain producing areas that were forced by a lack of grazing to “over winter” their stock on grain and/or potato by products and hay of inferior quality. The facilities, procedures and feeding methods were initially primitive and unreliable. Production performances were unsatisfactory and as time progressed antiquated US technologies were applied and improved upon. International professional consultants in the field of nutrition and animal heath later contributed to industry progress while milling, feeding and construction technologies were similarly imported. The Feedlots were all owner financed and cattle were either self owned, self bred or self purchased. These operators started experiencing common problems from the statutory bodies and opposition from primary producers and bureaucratic structures that considered them competition. These operators got together and on common ground established the SA Feedlot Association in the early 1970’s. The SA Feedlot Association has gone through the same growth pains as the Industry. Initially a function allocated to someone as an extra job but of minor importance. Later allocated a function of the SAAU using their secretariat and offices for meetings. This was replaced with a part time official and now a member funded self standing organisation representing 96 % of all cattle on feed with two full time Association employed staff and own offices in Pretoria, South Africa. Today the SA Feedlot industry is a flourishing industry that produces approximately 75 % of all beef produced in South Africa which in real terms is in the region of 1,35 million head per annum with a one time standing total of + 420 000 head. Following the deregulation of the SA Meat Industry a number of the larger feedlots have progressed vertically into not only the slaughtering of their own cattle but into the wholesaling and even retail.