Factory farming causes problems:
• Water Pollution
  • a 10,000 hog facility creates waste equivalent to 25,000 people
  • sow with a litter can produce untreated waste equivalent to approx. 4.5 people
  • hog farms (“sewerless cities”) generate so much surplus manure they can’t store it or make use of it safely
  • liquid manure often will leak into drinking water or spill over land spreading bacterial & viral pathogens (pathogens in hog waste are 10-100 times more concentrated than in human waste), parasites, heavy metals, antibiotics, weed seeds, disinfectants, & insecticides
  • high levels of nitrates in water can increase the risk of "blue-baby syndrome", can cause death in infants; is associated with spontaneous abortions in humans; can contribute to algae growth
  • high levels of phosphorus can cause extreme algae growth (1 lb. phosphorus = 500 lbs. algae); depletes oxygen in water; is acutely toxic to fish (may cause pfiesteria (“the cell from hell”)
    • pfiesteria thrives in waterways overloaded with phosphorous & nitrogen, often the result of animal runoff
    • areas hit the hardest are dominated by factory farms
    • human contact can result in memory loss, fatigue, dizziness, and asthmatic problems
  • lagoons, which never truly seal, may leak at an average of 500 gallons/acre/day
• Soil Contamination
  • overapplication of waste onto cropland, affecting waterways and polluting groundwater
  • heavy metals are another serious concern
    • zinc and copper are added to animal feed to prevent disease and improve digestion
    • heavy metal buildup in soil stunts plant growth and may poison grazing animals
    • metal pollution is virtually irreversible
• Air Pollution
  • gaseous emissions (hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, methane, ammonia) have adverse effects on neighbour’s quality of life and on physical & mental health
  • damages & alters habitats
  • contributes to greenbouse gases & global climate change
• Human Health Impacts
  • occupational hazards of gases and dust include respiratory problems (asthma, loss of lung capacity, chronic bronchitis, airway obstruction, organic toxic dust syndrome) and death
• Antibiotic Resistance
  • 80% of antibiotics are routinely fed to livestock (to enhance growth & control disease); 20% of antibiotics are used to treat actual illnesses
  • over 40% of the antibiotics sold in the U.S. are used on animals
  • excessive use of antibiotics causes animals to retain strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
  • under confined conditions, resistant bacteria is transmitted to other animals
  • transfer of resistant bacteria from animals to humans can occur by ingesting contaminated water, crops, or meat
  • antibiotic resistant bacteria is being found in water near factory farms, soil where manure is applied, meat
  • antibiotics are losing their effectiveness to combat human disease (most at risk are the young, elderly, and those with suppressed immune systems)
• Destruction of Independent Family Farmers
  • factory farms are not responsible stewards of the land (see the soil as a place to dump manure)
  • are causing a decrease in Family Farms
    • large factory farm producers dominate the market
    • in the U.S., 10 companies raise 92% of the nation’s poultry
  • factory farms are less profitable to communities
• Destruction of Rural Communities
  • corporate factory farms have little or no loyalty or regard for neighbours, the welfare of the communities, the environment
  • corporate factory farms destroy the social fabric of rural communities by the controversy surrounding the introduction of factory farms
• Economics
  • animal factories (also known as “pollution shoppers”) target small, isolated communities, communities which have virtually no economic activity except agriculture, have large amounts of cheap water, have environmental laws that are non-existent or loosely enforced
  • animal factories offer, in reality, jobs that are limited, hazardous/high turnover rate, low wage building materials/equipment are bought outside the area
  • feed is bought where it is cheapest (usually outside the area)
  • population declines
  • tourism suffers
  • rise in unemployment and poverty
  • property values decline
  • increase tax burden on the region (environmental costs, infrastructure costs, social costs, resource depletion)
• Groundwater Depletion
  • factory farms use millions of gallons daily (drinking, flushing, cooling)
  • water is often drawn from local aquifers
    • a 7,200 sow farrow to finish uses up 1,130,000 gallons/day (412,000,000 gallons/year)
• Inhumane Treatment of Animals
  • please refer to www.cetfa.com

www.hogwatchmanitoba.org
www.factoryfarming.org
www.cetfa.com
www.hfa.org
www.gracelinks.org