Factory farms, also known as confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs). To be regulated as a CAFO, an animal farm must contain at least a threshold number of animals. A dairy farm is designated as a CAFO if it contains the equivalent of 700 mature dairy farm.
Since dairy cows don’t move in CAFOs, all of the food must be harvested and transported to the cows. In warmer climates, dairy cows need fans and misters to reduce the potential for heat stress and keep milk production up.
Major production areas including dairy CAFOs in California, the Northeast and the Midwest.
Large CAFOs raising dairy cows are required to develop and implement best management practices for the land application of manure, litter and process wastewater consisting of a nutrient management plant, waste water application rates , manure and soil sampling, inspection for leaks, and setbacks.
From 1969 to 1992 there was a 70% decline in the number of dairy farms in the United States. This trend led to the regulatory term CAFO which currently represent about 4.5% of the 450,000 animal feeding operations in the United States.
CAFOs of dairy cows
