CAFO Fact Sheets

1. CAFO Fact Sheets CLASS Assignment, September 30, 2013

2. We will review the Fact Sheets together • Did I capture the essence of the report? • What is missing? • What is the most important point for the class to know?

3. CAFOs and Public Health: The Fate of Unabsorbed Antibiotics • Publication ID-348 • Author(s): Paul Ebner • Antibiotics are used in feed animal production: • Therapeutically – typically high doses • Sub-therapeutically – typically low doses • A portion of a dose of antibiotics is not absorbed but excreted in feces or urine • Antibiotics can degrade or runoff when in a manure pit or field; spreading manure is effective to eliminate unabsorbed antibiotics • Some antibiotics can bind strongly to soil and degrades more slowly • Concentrations of antibiotics found in soils that could impact human health (?? FDA) to be an appreciable health risk

4. CAFOs and Public Health: The Issue of Antibiotic Resistance • Publication ID-349 • Author(s): Paul Ebner • Antibiotics are produced by bacteria and molds to eliminate competition • Some bacteria that don’t produce antibiotics have acquired antibiotic resistance • Antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens could be problematic if an infected person seeking treatment is administered the drug to which the pathogen is resistant • Many non—pathogenic bacteria can be transmitted among humans • The use of drugs may be needed in extreme illnesses if resistance is noticed • On-farm development of antibiotic resistance is much higher because of the use • There is little agreement on whether antibiotic use in food animal production poses a risk to humans

5. CAFOs and Public Health: Pathogens and Manure • Publication ID-356 • Author(s): Paul Ebner • Livestock manure contains harmful disease causing bacteria • Improper manure application as fertilizer can lead to water contamination – IN regulations do not allow direct discharge of manure into water • The most effective tool in eliminating pathogens from manure is time (both practical and economic) • CAFO operators are required to produce a management plan to describe actions to prevent over-fertilization and contamination of waterways

6. CAFOs and Public Health: Emissions and the Respiratory Health of Neighbors • Publication ID-358 • Author(s): Samantha K. Wall & Paul Ebner • Major CAFO emissions of concern: hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and organic dirt • Can harm the pulmonary health of workers in confinement buildings • No difference in two groups (exposed to CAFO air and not) in objective health measures, but the CAFO-exposed group reported headaches, nausea, and eye irritation • CAFOs contribute less ammonia than pets and household cleaners • Schools close to a CAFO reported higher numbers of children with physician-diagnosed asthma than others

7. CAFOs and Public Health: Risk Associated with Welfare Friendly Farming • Publication ID-359 • Author(s): Rachel Dennis • Conventional poultry farming systems often include sub-therapeutic amounts of antibiotics in feed to prevent disease and improve production performance – are these transferred through meat? • About 25% of birds in both systems (?) tested positive for salmonella In 1996 the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Program was established (FDA & CDC) • Chicken raised in free-range/organic systems have higher prevalence (?) and more diverse populations of gastrointestinal parasites than birds raised in conventional housing facilities • Gastrointestinal parasite populations of ground-fed birds is an indicator of the loval environmental populations (?)

8. CAFOs and Public Health: Odor and its Possible Health Effects • Publication ID-361 • Author(s): Paul Ebner • Livestock odors are primarily generated from manure • Impacts • Most common human reaction – change in mood • Can cause an increase in blood pressure and blood sugar levels • Cannot make humans sick directly, but can trigger psychological factors that contribute to a reaction • Physical symptoms including headaches, nausea, and irritation of the eyes, nose, & throat • Reactions to odors affect people in different ways and result in different reactions through various situations

9. Community Impacts of CAFOs: Labor Markets • Publication ID-362 • Author(s): Roman Keeney • The public is becoming increasingly suspicious/community discord of large CAFOs • Animal agriculture may be aggressively singled out by opponents • CAFOs have increased farm employment (1969-2005) • Average wages are about $13.88/hour • Swine CAFO workers tended to receive highest wages ($15.54); dairy was the lowest ($12.27) • Specialized skills are necessary for many operations (hence the higher wages)

10. Community Impacts of CAFOs: Growing Trends • Publication ID-364 • Author(s): Roman Keeney • CAFO growth is facilitated by contractual agreement • Most operators are between 90 & 95% permitted capacity • Confined animal feeding is a dominant force in the growth of local livestock populations • Dairy populations tripled in Benton & Jasper counties • 10% increase in finishing hogs • 50% increase in livestock sales between 1997 and 2002 • Most operators were between 90 & 95% of their permit levels for all animals

11. CAFOs and Community Conflict: Understanding Community Conflict • Publication ID-365 • Author(s): Janet Ayres • CAFOs are private decisions that become public issues • Bring people with different views together early on • Structure – who/how are they being regulated • Interests – people enter public meetings with mind already made up Larger operation. More profits 75 Farm wage more 60-70% NO

12. CAFOs and Community Conflict: Understanding Conflict Between Individuals • Publication ID-366 • Author(s): Janet Ayres • Expansion of CAFOS create high levels of conflict • Disagreements don’t’ have to be resolved.. All parties can “agree to disagree” • No personal accusations, threats or name calling • Try to persuade and thing about it before hand (?) • Deal with differences • Try to compromise