Cargill is buying feed mills in Denver and Kansas City to expand its animal nutrition business across central and western states.

The Minnetonka-based agribusiness paid an undisclosed sum to Compana Pet Brands for the plants, which make food for animals large and small.

Mariano Berdegue, Cargill's senior vice president for animal nutrition in North America, said the plants "better position us for long-term growth of our full portfolio and serve a range of customers, from the larger farmer/rancher to the local retailer who sells horse treats and pet food."

While the mills will continue to supply Compana, Cargill plans to invest $37 million in the Denver facility to make it a "modernized, flagship feed mill" that can support big ranching and farming operations, according to a news release. The Kansas City plant is also near an existing Cargill feed mill.

The company produces 18 million metric tons of animal feed a year at 280 locations in 40 countries, including 58 feed mills in the U.S.