Disclosed herein is a method of sorting, treating, and feeding a group of bovine animals in a feed lot, wherein the method may include the steps of determining an ob genotype of each animal, comparing the relative weight and back fat of each animal with the other animals, dividing the animals into subgroups based on weight, back fat, and ob genotype. Zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) may be added to a feed ration fed to animals only in selected subgroups. Each group is fed a finishing period and then moved lot to slaughter. Each slaughter date and finishing period is independent of other subgroups.