Background
The USDA reports that since 1960, milk production has doubled, meat production has tripled, and the United States has become the largest fed-cattle industry and producer of beef in the world. Below is an interactive map of U.S. meat consumption in 2011 by state. \\Include sentence with instruction on how to interact with map\\
via chartsbin.com
From 2002 to 2007, the landscape of cattle farms in the United States has changed. Of farms that raise cattle for beef, CAFOs that raise between 200 and greater than 2,500 cattle have increased. CAFOs with greater than 2,500 cattle have increased 17% and CAFOs that raise between 500 and 2,499 have increased 10%. In contrast, smaller operations have declined by 7% on average.
Food and Water Watch, an advocacy group that works to ensure the food, water and fish people consume is safe, accessible and sustainably produced, has produced a factory farm map to visualize the concentration of CAFOs. When using the map, you may sort by type of animal raised and/ or state.
The effect of these CAFOs on human health is yet to be fully determined, but studies have shown an association between negative respiratory outcomes in CAFO workers. Studies have also been undertaken to determine if levels of hydrogen sulfide - from the breakdown of animal waste, ammonia - also from the breakdown of animal waste, and organic dust - from grain and bedding - are elevated in and around homes in close proximity to CAFOs. All three of these substances cause respiratory irritation in humans, and are heightened in those with asthma. Exposure to high levels of hydrogen sulfide is fatal.
Additionally, overcrowding leads to animals standing and laying in their own waste, allowing the ready spread of pathogens and requiring the use of antibiotics to keep animals healthy which, in turn, aids antibiotic resistance in common bacteria. Hides covered in manure can also contaminate the slaughterhouse, where the push to process animals faster leads to shoddy hygiene, and can result in massive and deadly outbreaks of bacteria such as E. coli 0157:H7.