Who is stocker operator?

Any cattle producer can be a stocker operator if they are raising weaned steer calves for market. Stockering simply means feeding these calves (which are around 5 to 6 months of age and average around 400 to 600 lbs) a high-forage ration, be it in the drylot or pasture, to get them to grow and gain enough before they are put in a finishing ration in the feedlot prior to slaughter.