Healthy Populations Block 6 Environmental Impacts of Confined Housing

Farm size since 1950s

• small family-owned farms to large corporate farms

• most are now single species farms

How has production changed since 1960

• milk production doubled

• meat production tripled

• egg production quadrupled

How have we improved efficiencies of animals

• selective animal breeding

• specially formulated feeds

• mechanical innovations

Confinement housing benefits to animals and workers

• intensive animal housing with all food provided

• increased worker efficiency

  • use of automation to feed and remove waste

• may reduce injuries to animals

• may reduce exposure to environmental sources of disease

• better feed conversion to growth as less energy is expended on physical activity

Confinement housing benefits to society

• less land devoted to agriculture per person

• better able to feed growing population of people and pets

• safe, wholesome, affordable protein

• benefits national economy

• positive impact on other industries

Confinement housing concerns

• animal welfare and quality of life

• source of environmental contamination

  • surface water

  • ground water

  • air quality

  • land

• increased animal and insect pests

• animal and human health concerns

National Commercial Production Egg Statistics

• 365 million hens lay

  • 90 billion table eggs/year

  • 15 billion hatching eggs/year

• 62+ farms with > 1,000,000 layers

• 16+ farms with > 5,000,000 layers

• Ohio is second largest egg-producing state

Concentrated Animal Feeding Facilities

• aka animal feeding operation

• animals kept in buildings, pens, or corrals

• feed is brought directly to animals

• animals are intensively housed so urine, feces, and other waste are produced in high

• crops, vegetative forage growth, or post-harvest residues not typically sustained in normal growing season

Who regulates CAFFs

ODA

Types of CAFFs

• based on species, number of animals, and manure management practices

  • small

    • not regulated by ODA in Ohio

  • medium

    • not regulated by ODA in Ohio

  • large

    • requires permit from ODA livestock environmental permitting program

  • major

    • requires permit from ODA livestock environmental permitting program

What is required by ODA for CAFFs to operate?

• permit to install

  • required before new build or expansion

  • one time application

  • facility inspection

  • public comment period

• permit to operate

  • renew every 5 years

  • annual inspection

  • public comment period

• certified livestock manager

  • all major CAFF

  • manure brokers/applicators

  • 10 hours CE every 3 years

What plans are required by ODA for CAFFs?

• manure management plan

• insect and rodent control plan

• mortality management plan

• emergency response plan

• biosecurity plan

• operation records (inspected every 6 months)

  • inspections

  • manure applications

  • ground water analysis

Who regulates Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations?

EPA

What does EPA regulate for CAFO?

• regulates discharge of pollutants from point sources of waters of US

• requires National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit

Types of CAFO

• small

  • require permit if ditch or pipe caries waste to surface water or animals come in contact with surface water

• medium

  • require permit if ditch or pipe caries waste to surface water or animals come in contact with surface water

• large

  • require permit

  • combines large and major

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations definition

• point sources of pollution that must obtain permits if they discharge (or propose to discharge) manure, litter, or wastewater into US waters

• generate manure, process wastewater, which can contain pollutants like nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, and bacteria

• all must have permits if release pollutants planned or unplanned

  • includes spills, overflows, or runoff

  • no exemption for storms

  • includes intentional land application of manure

Nutrient Management Plan

handling manure, wastewater, and land application to protect surface and ground waters

What do CAFOs have to have?

• nutrient management plan

• adequate manure storage capacity, test manure and soil, employ conservation practices to manage waste safely

• maintain records and submit annual reports

• divert clean water from production areas to protect surface water

• proper mortality management

Numbers of CAFOs

• 450,000 AFF/AFO in US

  • 85% small/unregulated

• 21,179 CAFO in US

  • 6,174 with NPEDS permit

• 296 in Ohio

  • 22 with NPEDS permit

Manure regulations in Ohio

• DLEP

• NPDES

• SWCD

• large and major AFFs can be permitted by both ODA and EPA

• Ohio has regulations that all people applying manure must follow

ODA division of livestock environmental permitting (DLEP)

permits construction and operation of large and major CAFFs with no discharge pollution into state waters

EPA national pollutant discharge elimination system (NPDES)

require permits for large CAFOs and any that discharge pollution into state waters

ODNR/Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD)

oversees agricultural pollution abatement program (APAP) for smaller or non-permitted farms to enforce standards to prevent and control water pollution from manure

What are some ways to use poop for profit?

• fertilizer for fields and gardens

• extract methane to produce electricity

• biodegradable plastics

• synthetic crude oil, working on biodiesel

• gardening products

Potential concerns for CAFFs and CAFOs

• animal welfare

• ground water

• surface water

• air quality

• soil contamination

• insect vectors

• pathogens

• antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals

• occupational illness and injuries

Ways to improve welfare in CAFFs and CAFOs

• facilities designed for specific species

• reduce wetness, keep feet dry

• reduce dust, particulates, and gases with good ventilation

• avoid overstocking

• train staff in animal handling and recognizing signs of poor welfare

Groundwater

• major source of drinking water

• contaminants include nutrients, pathogens, and pharmaceuticals

Leeching, run off, and seepage into groundwater

• unlined lagoons

• manure run off

• improper land application

• pesticides, pharmaceuticals

• pathogens, E. coli

• contaminated soils remain ongoing source

Who is leading contributor of pollutants to lakes, rivers, and reservoirs?

agriculture through manure, fertilizers from heavy storms, floods, and drainage ditches

How is ammonia toxic?

is directly toxic and converted into nitrates

What do nitrates and phosphorous do?

act as nutrients to encourage algae and plant growth

What is the pathway of fertilizers causing death of animals in lakes

1. fertilizers wash into lake or river

2. algae grow faster

3. algae die

4. plants die from being shaded by algae

5. dead algae and plants decomposed by microbes

6. microbes respire and use up oxygen

7. dissolve oxygen levels fall

8. aquatic animals suffocate and die (eutrophication)

Contributors to water pollution

• agriculture runoff and manure/fertilizer application

• destruction of natural wetlands to build lakeside residences

  • absence of beavers has impact

• residential fertilizer use

• commercial discharge

particulates

• airborne dust

  • dirt and bedding, fur and feathers

  • allergens and endotoxins

• similar to wildfires

• cause bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia

• counties with CAFF/CAFO have higher levels than those without

gases and odors

• decomposition of manure

• ammonia, H2S, methane, CO2

• occupational risk

• 3 mile plume

  • can be up to 6 based on weather

• bad odors may alter daily activities

• people report headaches, sore throat, depression, and other mental health concerns

Insect vectors and pollution

• perfect breeding grounds for insects

• houseflies, stable flies, and other filth flies

  • breed in decaying organic matter

  • mechanical vectors of disease

  • manure management is effective and essential

• mosquitoes

  • breed in standing water and manure lagoons

  • biological vectors of disease

Pathogens from animal pollutants

• direct contact

  • ringworm

• inhalation

  • histoplasmosis

• fecal-oral ingestion

  • contaminated drinking water

    • cryptosporidium

  • contaminated food

    • E. coli and salmonella

  • contaminated recreational water

    • leptospirosis

• animal manure has over 150 pathogens that impact human health

Antibiotics and Pharmaceuticals in polluted water

• antibiotics, growth hormones, pesticides administered to animals

• passed in urine and feces

  • many remain bioactive in environment

• harm aquatic ecosystems

  • disrupt endocrine systems

    • disrupt sexual maturation, skewed sex ratios, infetility

  • alter normal behaviors

  • congenital defects

  • direct harm to organs and tissues

    • toxicity and cancer

Biggest contributor of pharmaceuticals in water

• humans

  • trace amounts found in drinking water

    • antibiotics

    • estrogen and hormones

    • heart medications

    • mood stabilizers

    • NSAIDs

prevention and mitigation of complaints from CAFFs and CAFOs

• site selection

  • soils and geology

  • distance from wells and streams

  • visibility of facilities, distance from other houses

  • expected weather events

• reduce odor levels

  • frequent manure removal

  • dry it out or use covered lagoon

  • position barns effectively

  • avoid manure application on holidays, weekends, events