Other Animals

Although most US factory farms produce beef cattle, dairy cows, hogs, or chickens, industrial livestock facilities are also used to raise other animals such as sheep, ducks, horses, turkeys, and even buffalo.

Indeed, virtually any type of animal can be raised on a factory farm – and in all cases, the same problems can be expected; when too many animals are confined on a given facility, the animals will generate more waste than the facility can safely handle – as a result, animal waste is mismanaged, which damages the environment and threatens human health.

The high concentration of animals on factory farms also compromises animal welfare, promotes the spread of disease, and prompts the irresponsible use of antibiotics. Factory farms are hazardous operations – no matter what type of animal they confine.

The US EPA’s CAFO Regulatory Definitions

This chart lists the EPA’s regulatory definitions of large, medium, and small CAFOs for several animal types. Download the chart: PDF | Word

EPA CAFO Regulatory Definitions (available at http://www.epa.gov/npdes/pubs/sector_table.pdf)