The American commercial mixed-feeds industry has experienced rapid growth, especially since World War II. Changes have occurred in the product produced, in the number, size, location, and technology of plants, and in the number, size, and organization of the purchasers of the industry’s products. The purpose of this study was to develop and use an analytical procedure to solve for the efficient number, size, and location of plants in the Iowa feed-manufacturing industry. Such information should assist the industry in adjusting to rapidly changing demand and technology.

The problematical situation out of which the specific objectives emerge is to find the least-cost location and size pattern for feed-manufacturing plants in Iowa. The solution should take account of changing levels of demand, the changing levels of available technology, and the commercialization trends of modem farming. Are the existing feed-manufacturing plants economically efficient in size? Are their locations optimal? Should there be more or fewer of them?