Muddy pens are a fading memory for the staff at InterMountain Beef in south central Idaho.

To improve drainage and boost cattle performance, roller compacted concrete footing was installed at the 30,000-head feedlot about 16 miles east of Twin Falls near Eden.

“We’re the first feedlot in Idaho to line our pens and runoff pond with RCC,” says Cevin Jones, CEO and the third generation to work at the 200-acre family-owned operation.

“To stay in business, you have to find ways to innovate and be more efficient and competitive,” he said.

Through his consultants, Jones learned about RCC, a mixture of cement, aggregates, and water but with less water content than traditional cement.

“There’s a sizable cost upfront, but it’s been well worth it. We looked at the data, and the payback is definitely there. There’s better winter performance with the cattle. They benefit with improved footing, and we still use bedding.”

The three-year project was finally finished last fall. Pens were initially cleared out and regraded so drainage would flow toward a lined pond. After putting down a base layer, 6 inches of RCC was installed.

“We’re glad we did it,” Jones said. “It’s made a big difference during winter. It’s easier to manage cattle without dealing with mud. Pens are easier to clean. Without erosion, we don’t have to haul in dirt either.”

The footing project coincided with the announcement that True West Beef would open a plant near Jerome about 20 miles west of Eden and would partner with local producers. Jones nearly doubled production to 30,000 head to be ready when the plant began processing cattle in April 2023.

Cattle come to InterMountain from throughout the West, especially the Pacific Northwest.

InterMountain’s production is at capacity, which Jones thinks would please his grandfather Henry Jones, who started the feedlot in 1946. Henry and Cevin’s father, Calvin, both shared an attitude of innovation and were doing soil testing in the 1950s to protect the land from runoff. A lake north of the feedlot, filled with summer irrigation water, benefits wildlife.

Family members are still leading the business with Cevin’s son Carson working as assistant manager and his brother Curtis running the farming side of the business.

Along with custom feeding, they buy feeder cattle, background cattle of all classes and weights, and offer retained ownership to provide a producer the opportunity to follow his cattle through the entire feeding process.