"We wanted to develop a source of information that is based on science, not sentiment," said Alan Grant, head of the university's department of animal sciences.

A confined animal feeding operation, or CAFO, is an agricultural business where animals are raised in a confined environment and not allowed to roam or graze.

The Web site is designed to aid zoning boards, planning commissions, agricultural Extension educators, as well as citizens and farmers by covering environmental issues, public health concerns and general information.

"Let's say a zoning board has to make a decision about allowing a producer to build a CAFO within 5 miles of an elementary school," Paul Ebner, Purdue Extension expert said, noting much of the information given the board might be biased and based on strong emotions.

"Now, the zoning board can visit the CAFO Web site and read about the environmental and public health issues of animal agriculture that could potentially affect children attending the school and sort myth from fact," he said.

The Web site is available at http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/CAFO.