<P> A feedlot or feed yard is a type of animal feeding operation (AFO) which is used in intensive animal farming for finishing livestock, notably beef cattle, but also swine, horses, sheep, turkeys, chickens or ducks, prior to slaughter . Large beef feedlots are called concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO) in the United States and intensive livestock operations (ILOs) or confined feeding operations (CFO) in Canada . They may contain thousands of animals in an array of pens . </P> <P> The basic principle of the feedlot is to increase the amount of meat each animal produces as quickly as possible; if animals are kept in confined quarters rather than being allowed to range freely over grassland, they will put on weight more quickly . </P> <P> Most feedlots require some type of governmental permit and must have plans in place to deal with the large amount of waste that is generated . The Environmental Protection Agency has authority under the Clean Water Act to regulate all animal feeding operations in the United States . This authority is delegated to individual states in some cases . In Canada, regulation of feedlots is shared between all levels of government, whilst in Australia this role is handled by the National Feedlot Accreditation Scheme (NFAS). </P>

In what part of the united states are most of the small beef feedlots found