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Feeders, Packers and Industry Leaders

Dan May: From a Stratton Farm to One of the Nation's Largest Cattle Feeding Groups

A Stratton, Colorado, farm kid who became a commodity trader, May helped his brothers scale a small feedlot into a company with 4M Feeders, Herd Co and Magnum Feedyard.

Who is Dan May?

Dan May is a Colorado cattle feeder who, with his brothers, runs one of the larger feeding groups in the United States. The Drovers profile of May reports that the group feeds 150,000 to 180,000 cattle across 4M Feeders, Herd Co and Magnum Feedyard.

He was inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame in 2025 at the Cattle Convention in San Antonio, Texas, as the hall's biography of May records.

Growing up in Stratton, Colorado

May grew up on a farm in Stratton, in eastern Colorado, where he milked cows, fed cattle and farmed. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Farm and Ranch Management and a minor in Economics.

Before the family feeding business took over, he worked as a commodity broker. He later served as head of cattle procurement and commodity trading for Seckler Cattle Company, a partner of Louis Dreyfus Corporation, and as head of cattle operations for Foxley Cattle Co. The Foxley years connect him to Bill Foxley's feeding company, whom he praised for an uncanny feel for markets.

From a 2,500-head feedlot to 4M, Herd Co and Magnum

With his brothers Jim, Tom and Steve, May scaled a small family farm and a 2,500-head feedlot into farming, feedyard and ranching operations in Colorado, Nebraska and Nevada. The brothers' operations include 4M Feeders, Herd Co and Magnum Feedyard.

The family farms 35,000 acres of grain and forage. About 95 percent of the cattle in its yards are company-owned, and it bought working ranches in Colorado and Nevada to supply the yards and now runs about 10,000 mother cows. May says he buys 3,000 to 4,000 cattle a week for the yards, which gives a steady supply.

Hedging, markets and the trading mindset

May's trading background shows in how he describes the business. He says the market has changed from floor-broker relationships to trading against hedge funds and algorithms. The family markets more than 300,000 head of beef cattle a year and stays active in commodity trading.

He names packing house closures and slowdowns during COVID, and labor, as the biggest recent challenges.

The Key to May's Success

May's own summary in Drovers is plain: build a strong team. His record also shows ranches in Colorado and Nevada supplying the feedyards he helps run.

His advice to others is just as direct. If you are not passionate about it, he says, don't do it.

  • Scale a family farm with brothers: a 2,500-head feedlot became a multistate group.
  • Own the cattle: about 95 percent of cattle in the yards are company-owned.
  • Secure supply: ranches in Colorado and Nevada and 3,000 to 4,000 head bought weekly.
  • Trade as well as feed: commodity trading and hedging experience guide marketing.
  • Build the team: May credits a strong management team as one of the most helpful changes.

Team, family operations and the next generation

May names team members Case Gabel and Chad Mathews in the Drovers profile, and says the company has an office in Littleton. The Gabel family are also partners in Magnum Feedyard, which links May's group to the Magnum Feedyard story.

Magnum, one of the three yards, sits at Wiggins, Colorado, with a 35,000-head capacity, and Drovers reports that it now owns about 80 to 85 percent of the cattle it feeds. This entry keeps to May's public professional record.

Honors and where to read more

The Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame announced its 2025 class, which included May, and the news was widely covered, including by Beef Magazine. The hall launched in 2009 with Merck Animal Health, Osborn and Barr, and Drovers as founding partners. Farm Progress reported that the very first class was chosen by fellow cattle feeders from twelve nominees.

To learn more about feeding country, see the ranching section of farm.FM, or read a farm.FM story about a feeding family.

Timeline

  1. YouthGrows up on a farm in Stratton, Colorado
  2. Early careerWorks as a commodity broker after Colorado State University
  3. Trading yearsHeads cattle procurement and trading at Seckler Cattle Company
  4. Foxley yearsServes as head of cattle operations for Foxley Cattle Co.
  5. Family businessWith brothers, scales a 2,500-head feedlot into 4M Feeders, Herd Co and Magnum
  6. 2025Inducted into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame in San Antonio

Frequently asked questions

Who is Dan May?

Dan May is a Colorado cattle feeder from Stratton who, with his brothers, runs 4M Feeders, Herd Co and Magnum Feedyard. He entered the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame in 2025.

How many cattle does Dan May feed?

Drovers reports the group feeds 150,000 to 180,000 cattle across its yards, with about 95 percent company-owned, and markets more than 300,000 head of beef cattle a year.

What is Herd Co?

Herd Co is one of three feeding businesses in the May family group, along with 4M Feeders and Magnum Feedyard. The group has operations in Colorado, Nebraska and Nevada.

Did Dan May work for Bill Foxley?

Drovers says May was head of cattle operations for Foxley Cattle Co., and the Foxley profile quotes May describing Bill Foxley as energetic, highly intelligent and gifted with markets.

Sources and further reading

Profiles are compiled from public sources and reviewed against them. See our editorial policy to suggest a correction.

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