Industrial Food Animal Production - General

This production model raises thousands of animals of one breed and for one purpose at a single site, packed together densely in confined, highly controlled conditions. The animals receive formulated feeds – often including antibiotics and hormones – instead of having access to forage crops.

Recommended resources on this topic:

Reports & Other Documents

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: EPA Needs More Information and a Clearly Defined Strategy to Protect Air and Water Quality from Pollutants of Concern

Government Accountability Office, September 2008.

CAFOs Uncovered: The Untold Costs of Confined Animal Feeding Operations

Union of Concerned Scientists, April 2008.

Managing Livestock-Environment Interactions

Food and Agriculture Organization, April 2007.

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Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

The Animal-Human Interface and Infectious Disease in Industrial Food Animal Production: Rethinking Biosecurity and Biocontainment

J.P. Graham, et al. Public Health Reports, May-June 2008.

Environmental Health Impacts of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: Anticipating Hazards – Searching for Solutions

P.S. Thorne. Environ Health Perspect, February 2007.

Sustainability of poultry production using the energy approach: comparison of conventional and organic rearing systems

C. Castellini, et al. Agr Ecosyst Environ, June 2006.

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Relevant Organizations

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Program on CAFOs

Food and Agriculture Organization (U.N.)

Animal Production and Health Division

Food & Water Watch

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Additional Tools & Resources

Factory Farm Map (Food & Water Watch)

Shows number of factory farms and factory farm animals by state and county.

National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center

Potential Environmental Impacts of Animal Feeding Operations

Environmental Protection Agency’s “Ag 101” site.

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