BUTLER/CUNNINGHAM

This page is still under construction. It continues the story of AFOs and CAFOs begun on the regular Environment page. Please remember to use the "BACK" function of your browser to return to this page from subsequent pages.

This site will change from time to time. Basic organization will remain constant.

click here to contact Mike Polioudakis, site developer

polioej@acesag.auburn.edu

LEVEL 2

ENVIRONMENT FACTS:

AFOs and CAFOs

Selection of Similar Pages

AFOs AND CAFOs

We wish to thank Drs. Charlie Mitchell, Frank Owsley, Ted Tyson and Wes Wood for sharing their experience and insights. All of them can be contacted through the Auburn University website. Any errors are ours alone. A summary prepared by Dr. Wes Wood can be found at the bottom of this page.

Animal Feedlot Operations (AFOs) and Concentrated Animal Feedlot Operations (CAFOs) only developed in the last 30 years or so. They are an interesting case that shows the interaction between technology, market forces, natural resources, and social history - all of which can be part of the environment.

An AFO is a farm wherein animals, usually pigs or chickens, are raised densely in pens. The animals usually have limited movement. The animal "houses" may be indoors or out but the increasing tendency has been toward indoors because it is easier to manage food, water, temperature and health. To justify indoor facilities, and other expenses, the operations have become ever larger and more concentrated. A CAFO is an AFO that exceeds a certain threshold. The specifics of definition can be retrieved from ADEM, which maintains a list of AFOs and CAFOs, and of some details of their operation.

The page accessed from the button at left gives an introduction to the issue of CAFOs in Alabama.

Dr. Wes Wood of Alabama has considerable research on some aspects of CAFOs in northern Alabama. A statement by him can be accessed through the button at the left.

Additional criticisms of AFOs and CAFOs may be obtained from Mr. Bryan Burgess, a resident of northeastern Alabama, who has become actively interested in the topic. He can be contacted through the Friends of Rural Alabama via the Grassroots organization (see button at left) or more directly at ForAla@alltel.net. Mr. Burgess suggested that Mr. Wayne Cummins list some of the "benefits" of AFOs and CAFOs, and he did. Mr. Cummins' email address is wcummins@farmerstel.com.