common. Ruminant feedlots are predominantly a North
American phenomenon, though they are used to a lesser
extent in parts of Europe and the Near East. The vast
majority of large and small ruminant populations are found
in the developing regions: some 70% of small ruminants in
grazing systems and over 80% of large ruminants in
grazing systems are located in developing regions. These
shares are respectively about 80% and 70% in rainfed
mixed systems and 87% and 92% in irrigated mixed
systems.