Confined Animal Feeding Operations - CAFOs

1. Confined Animal Feeding Operations - CAFOs ASM 336 September 30, 2013

2. CAFO Characteristics • High stocking rate • For economies of scale (highest output at the lowest cost) • Artificial methods to insure health and improve production • Antibiotics & pesticides • Modern machinery and, often, biotechnology • Breeding programs to produce animals suited to confined conditions and a consistent food product

3. Confinement Operations • Usual species: cows, pigs, turkeys, chickens

4. Concerns • Large amounts of waste products • Dead animals • Concentration of animals • Lack of pasture • Lack of movement • De-beaking of chickens (which averts vicious fighting & cannibalism) • Confinement of sows in gestation crates (which keeps them from fighting)

5. UK, Farm Animal Welfare Council • Five freedoms: • Freedom from hunger & thirst • Freedom from discomfort, pain, injury or disease • Freedom to express normal behavior • Freedom from fear • Freedom from distress

6. U.S. Survey • Which of the following is of highest importance? • Animals properly fed, watered, housed, and treated for injury and disease • Natural animal behavior & comfort • Price of food

7. U. S. Consumer Survey • Consumer Ranking • Natural animal behavior & comfort (46%) • Animals properly fed, watered, housed, and treated for injury and disease (40%) • Price of food (14%) • Consumers generally report that “a high standard of animal care” is their biggest concern, defined as: • Allowing natural behaviors • Outdoor exercise • Shelter • Socialization • Comfortable bedding

8. Human Health According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): • Farms on which animals are intensively reared can cause adverse health reactions in farm workers • Workers may develop acute and chronic lung disease, musculoskeletal injuries, and may catch infections that transmit from animals to human beings • Chemical, bacterial, and viral compounds from animal waste may travel in the soil and water • Residents near such farms report nuisances such as unpleasant smell, flies and adverse health effects

9. Animal Health Confinement and overcrowding impacts on animals: • Can provide optimum conditions for viral mutations and transmission • Causes a lack of natural locomotion and exercise which weakens bones and muscles • Selection of generations of birds for faster growth rates and higher meat yields has led to • A high degree of genetic uniformity • Immune systems less able to cope with infections

10. Indiana CAFO Study June 19, 2009 Report: • Surveyed 50 swine and dairy operation personnel in 8 counties (Benton, Cass, Huntington, Jasper, Jay, Randolph, Wabash, and Wells) • Represented the largest concentration of animal facilities in the state • There were approximately 645 CAFO operations in Indiana at the time of the study

11. Partner Work • Talk with your assigned partner to answer questions 5 – 9 on your notes (both) • Guess the answers that were found in a 2009 research project – CAFO operators were questioned • You have 5 minutes • I will share what the IN swine and dairy operation personnel actually reported

12. CAFO Question Partners • K Bender/T Peters • M Burke/D Pike • J Bunchek/B Popp • T Clemens/ L Roederer • C Keown/M Rosenberg • J Lambert/M Yearwood • J Pelsy/D Zumwalt • K Fischer/C Schuman • D Harbison/M Warstler • S Metcalf/J Waterman • M Misch/L Weiss • C Noyes/S Williams • J Paarlberg/J Wint • N Redelman/A Yaggie • D= Romesberg/P Hellwarth • K Brown/E Geis • J Cale/A Guckien • J Carter/C Huston • L Christman/A Lupfer • J Crum/G Meents • A Cupp/J Nannet

13. Demographics & Acceptance • The average operator was younger and more educated than the average Indiana farmer • CAFO operators faced little opposition in the siting process • A few operators reported that their siting process was opposed by individuals or organized groups • 80% of surveyed operators reported that community response as mostly positive or all positive

14. IN CAFO Study – Personnel • CAFO operators make greater use of hired labor than typical farm operations and wages are higher (average $12.38 per hour, compared to an average farm wage of $8.50 an hour) • Hired labor varies from hired managers to part-time help

15. IN CAFO Study - Environmental • Environmental violations by CAFO operations were uncommon • In the counties in the study, less than 1% of CAFOs were cited for water quality violations • Conclusion: there was little evidence to suggest that the size or type of operation predicts an increase in the chance of an environmental violation occurring

16. IN CAFO Study - Economic • CAFO operators make large feed and supplies purchases both locally and regionally • Some CAFOs generate enough added tax revenue to cover the added costs they create for a county but some do not • All eight counties have zoning ordinances that apply to land use • Each county approaches CAFO regulations differently, from” • All decisions made on a case-by-case basis • …to… • Clearly defined development standards and land-use zones

17. CAFO Fact Sheets • Talk with your assigned partner (as before) read and discuss the CAFO fact sheet you are given • Answer questions 10-12 on your class notes (both) • I will use the bullet points to report to the entire class on Wednesday so we all have the information from all the fact sheets • Turn in your class notes today

18. Partners • K Bender/T Peters • M Burke/D Pike • J Bunchek/B Popp • T Clemens/ L Roederer • C Keown/M Rosenberg • J Lambert/M Yearwood • J Pelsy/D Zumwalt • K Fischer/C Schuman • D Harbison/M Warstler • S Metcalf/J Waterman • M Misch/L Weiss • C Noyes/S Williams • J Paarlberg/J Wint • N Redelman/A Yaggie • D= Romesberg/P Hellwarth • K Brown/E Geis • J Cale/A Guckien • J Carter/C Huston • L Christman/A Lupfer • J Crum/G Meents • A Cupp/J Nannet

19. Reading Assignment • Choose one of the articles listed under “Air Quality” • Diet and Feed Management Practices Affect Air Quality from Poultry and Swine Operations (AS-582-W) • Dust Management in Horse Facilities (ID-444-W) • Forests and Our Environment (FNR-139-W) • Matching Multiple Ventilation Fans (BV-1-W) • You will be asked to summarize the article on Wednesday (‘closed book’) • Title, author, and main points (bullet list)