Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: A Case Study

cutting down forests in Brazil, as well as setting wildfires in places like west Texas cause “carbons stored in trees” to escape. Individuals don't understand that in places like “Brazil,” deforestation causes more emissions than “all of the world's cars.” There are other forms of greenhouse gases as well; like “Methane” released from “Rice Farming, Petroleum drilling, and even cattle bleaching” (Friedman 35). Over “10 Billion” animals are raised for Factory Farms in the United states. Burning Fossil Fuels for fertilizer creates up to “41 million metric tons” of Carbon Dioxide. The Factory Farm industry contributes to air pollution by emitting Greenhouse Gases such as “Hydrogen Sulfide, Ammonia and Methane” (DoSomething Web). Factory Farms is something that can easily be changed by switching to smaller meat establishments, where the common public already expects the meat to come from.

Although the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) was established by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to protect consumers, a number of unintended consequences have arisen that negatively impact producers. These include increased costs of feed, negative impacts of small and rural producers, limitations to meeting new demands and the voluntary nature of the VFD. This letter explores the VFD and identifies challenges with its current implementation that impact our rural and remote producers.

In the article America’s Food Crisis and how to fix it by Bryan Walsh it talks about how people are packing in animals into confined pens with a bunch of other animals of its kind. All the animals are dosed with antibiotics to keep from getting sick. The article explains that the waste that the animals produce on the factory farms gets disposed into open air lagoons and how it can contaminate nearby streams and creeks.

Introduction (Attention Step): What do you think is the greatest cause of emission pollution? What do you believe is harming our planet? Well if you guessed that fossil fuel emissions are the biggest emission polluters, then you are completely wrong (attention getter). Animal Agriculture is actually the number one Greenhouse Gas emitter in the planet. Yes, cow farts are destroying the environment. It sounds crazy, but ever since the mid 60’s, agriculture associations have been spreading across the Americas and dominated the industry. The most destructive of all Ag corps are Livestock Corporation. These associations include IBP, Conagra, Perdue, Farmland National Beef, Cargill, etc … Animal Agriculture is effecting every single person in this room because we all breathe in the same air, drink the same water, and eat the same (credibility). The buildup of Animal Agriculture is a great destruction to our planet and our species because it is creating

In the past century there has been a substantial change in the way human beings raise and keep animals meant for food. While in the past there were great numbers of widely spaced small individual farms, now there are relatively few, but extremely large industrialized farms. And as the numbers of animals kept and slaughtered for human consumption increases, these industrialized farms, known as Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations or CAFO's, are having more and more of an impact on the environment and people around them. The concentration of animals causes a major problem with the waste products they produce, as well as the gases, chemicals, and other types of byproducts. And the increased use of antibiotics in the animals is beginning to have a profound effect on the health of not only the environment but the communities that exist around these industrialized farms. CAFO's, and their secondary industries, are also a large consumer of oil, gasoline, and other fuels which can have an indirect, but devastating effect on the environment. Luckily there are some who have come to recognize the problems, and potential future problems, involved in this type of animal farming and have begun to inform the public to the dangers these farms pose. And in response to this information, the public is beginning to force changes in the way these CAFO's operate and the impact they have on the environment and

Most people do not take a second thought about where their food came from. Whether it be chicken, steak, or pork, the meat was most likely raised in a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). Hundreds to thousands of animals in horrid conditions from birth to slaughter at these factory farms. While damaging animals, CAFOs also damage the environment and the effects of these farms are worsening, with more farms resorting to these methods. Popular brands using these methods include global producers like Smithfield Foods and Tyson Foods. The United States Department of Agriculture defines a CAFO as an Animal Feeding Operation that houses “...more than 1000 animal units...” (nrcs.usda.gov). These “units” are later defined as “...an animal

The cons are the hazards to both the health of local residents and the environment. The largest contributor to unhealthy conditions surrounding CAFOs is the amount of manure produced by so many animals. According to numbers by the EPA, livestock in the US produces billions of tons of waste every year, to the point of being anywhere from 3 to 20 times the amount from people. And while human waste goes through sewage treatment plans, animal waste does not, and in quantities this large it becomes a health

Author, Michael Pollan believes the industrial food chain is hurting the environment, livestock and the consumers. First of all, he states, “The flood of extra nitrogen causes a wild growth of algae, and the algae take up all the oxygen in the water, smothering the fish.”(34) The extra water from the concentrated animal feeding organization may seem harmless but is actually very harmful to the other animals not in the CAFOs. Pollan also points out,”They’re made to eat forage,”...,”...and we’re making them eating grain...”(58). The cows are being fed something they weren't designed to eat and therefore getting sick. In addition to that, “Some of this bacteria are finding their way into our food...”(49). The bacteria bred by the CAFOs doesn't

One way is the runoff of contaminants into drinking water, and these contaminants include pathogens, antibiotics, chemicals, and growth hormones. 53 percent of Americans use groundwater as their main source of drinking water, and 29 states in the U.S have identified CAFOs as the main cause for low quality groundwater. When pathogens are exposed to groundwater, they have the ability to survive longer, and grow faster. This is due to lower temperature, and lack of sunlight. Many factory farmers are developed near communities, so humans are exposed to these contaminants. This can cause serious disease outbreaks within families that live near waste runoff sites, and have the potential of the disease spreading across the community (Hribar). The other way that factory farms can harm humans is the exposure to dust particles. Livestock produce a particle called endotoxin. Endotoxin is the main cause for respiratory diseases in American, so factory farms are the main source to blame. Endotoxin has the ability to cause allergic reactions, asthma, and even some lung cancer has been caused by too much exposure to this deadly particle. These particles can easily be brought to local communities by wind because it mostly is settled down inside of barns or already floating in the air. The manure also contains significant amounts of the particle, so when a farmer spreads manure on a windy day, the wind can take it and spread it

Industrial agriculture is currently the predominant food production system in the United States. It is distinguished by large-scale monoculture, abundant use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and meat production in CAFOs. CAFOs are ‘Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations’, otherwise known as factory farms, which aim to cram as many animals in one space to boost efficiency and profit at the expense of animal suffering and environmental hazards.

I am glad that we watched both “Food inc.” as well as “Fresh” because each video showed a side as to what should be talked about relating to harmful farming procedures. The two sides shown were the awful conditions of major farms as well as the monopolization of the farming industry and how these monopolies force and pressure smaller farmers into financial strife or complete compliance as well as how to overcome this situation through secondary alternatives. It truly disgusted me when “Food inc.” showed me just how horrendous the conditions of CAFO’s (also known as “feed lots”) are by showing the livestock compacted side by side with no room to move while simultaneously standing knee deep of their own manure. I understand the cost effectiveness of these techniques but it concerns me that they have to pump each and every animal there full of anti-biotics so that all the animals don’t die. The higher chance of contracting E. Coli from these CAFO produced foods also has me questioning where the food that is available to me is exactly coming

Attention getter: According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United States, animal agriculture is a leading source of carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane emissions, the top three greenhouse gasses (FAO, 2006).

For most Americans and Canadians, the ideal meal is fast, cheap, and tasty. Examine the cost putting profit, value and convenience over nutrition and environmental impact is important to the well-being of the world.

In addition to air pollution, cows produce water pollution. Millions of cows crowded together in little fields urinating and defecating turn the ground

The cattle industry produces vast amounts of strain in the environment. It is energy inefficient, pollutes water, occupies many acres of land, and deteriorates the health of the people who abuse its consumption. The government subsidizes this industry. Therefore, the price paid for meat doesn’t reflect the environmental hazards involved in the process. In order to protect our health and the health of the environment we should pay close attention to our food choices and make sure we don’t support industries that degrade it.