Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
As a result of domestic and export market forces, technological changes, and industry adaptations, food animal production that was integrated with crop production has given way to fewer, larger farms that raise animals in confined situations. These large-scale animal production facilities are generally referred to as animal feeding operations. CAFOs are a subset of animal feeding operations and generally operate on a larger scale. While CAFOs may have improved the efficiency of the animal production industry, their increased size and the large amounts of manure they generate have resulted in concerns about the management of animal waste and the potential impacts this waste can have on environmental quality and public health. Animal manure can be, and frequently is, used beneficially on farms to fertilize crops and to restore nutrients to soil. However, if improperly managed, manure and wastewater from animal feeding operations can adversely impact water quality through surface runoff and erosion, direct discharges to surface water, spills and other dry-weather discharges, and leaching into the soil and groundwater. Excess nutrients in water can result in or contribute to low levels of oxygen in the water and toxic algae blooms, which can be harmful to aquatic life. Improperly managed manure can also result in emissions to the air of particles and gases, such as ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and volatile organic compounds, which may also result in a number of potentially harmful environmental and human health effects. <ref name = "GAO 2008"> "Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations: EPA Needs More Information and a Clearly Defined Strategy to Protect Air and Water Quality from Pollutants of Concern" 'U.S. Government Accountability Office' GAO-08-944 <https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-08-944>