Blackshirt Feeders Built Massive Nebraska Feedlot

The 200,000-head facility features automated systems and a biodigester for renewable gas.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Agriculture

A wide aerial view of a large-scale, modern cattle feedlot with rows of concrete pens and a central industrial mill on the Nebraska plains. — Blackshirt Feeders has completed a new 200,000-head cattle feedlot in southwest Nebraska, integrating automated feed milling technology and a renewable natural gas biodigester. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Blackshirt Feeders has developed a new 720-acre feedlot in southwest Nebraska designed to hold 200,000 head of cattle. The massive project includes a centralized, one-person-operated feed mill and an integrated biodigester.

Why it matters

The company chose a greenfield development over acquiring existing yards to achieve its specific operational scale. Integrating a biodigester allows the firm to generate renewable natural gas, creating a new revenue stream tied to carbon markets.

The 720-acre facility utilizes over one million tonnes of aggregate and features 300 research pens holding 10 to 15 animals each. Water is sourced from the Ogallala aquifer at rates between 2,000 and 3,000 gallons per second.

The players

Blackshirt Feeders

Blackshirt Feeders is an agriculture company that manages approximately 16 feed yards with a total capacity of 750,000 head.

Kee Jim

Kee Jim is the founder of Feedlot Animal Health Services and an inductee into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.

The details

The feedlot employs roller compacted concrete surfacing throughout its pen area to prevent manure contamination and eliminate the need for routine pen maintenance. Automated batch processing technology enables a single operator to manage the feed mill for the entire capacity.

1983: Kee Jim founded Feedlot Animal Health Services consultancy.
2024: Kee Jim was inducted into the Alberta Agriculture Hall of Fame.
December 2026: Facility expects to reach 150,000 head capacity.
End of 2027: Facility expects to reach 200,000 head capacity.

Market Landscape

This project follows the established industry pattern of integrating biodigesters to capture and monetize methane emissions. It positions Blackshirt Feeders as a major player in the renewable natural gas sector while scaling up cattle production capacity.

The facility is expected to bring new labor demand to the southwest Nebraska region, including the town of Laird, Colorado. Local stakeholders may see changes in regional agricultural infrastructure and carbon credit market participation.

The takeaway

Large-scale agricultural projects are increasingly relying on automation to manage massive head counts with minimal personnel. Integrating sustainable technology like biodigesters has become a standard approach to maximizing the financial efficiency of modern feedlots.