Kaua'i's growing cattle industry yesterday held a blessing to mark the completion of the island's first cattle staging facility.

Located in Hanama'ulu on 2.15 acres of agricultural land owned by Lihu'e Land Co., the facility was built by members of the Kaua'i Cattleman's Association and financed through four grants totaling $52,000 from the Office of Economic Development.

The cattleman's association initiated plans for the facility several years ago when the state Department of Transportation Harbors Division announced plans to terminate the loading of cattle at Nawiliwili Harbor.

"Currently, there are 120 cattle producers and approximately 6,300 head of cattle on Kaua'i, a lot more than we've had in recent years," Lincoln Ching, KCA secretary/treasurer said in a news release.

"The new facility provides ranchers with a central location to bring their cattle to and have them staged for overseas shipping."

A weeklong test run at the facility recently processed 500 head of cattle for shipping.