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May 2000

Animal Factories
Pollution and Health Threats to Rural Texas

This article was written by the Consumers Union Southwest Regional Office.

Available in PDF Format.

 

Executive Summary

Report

Feedlot Dust
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Koch
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Pilgrims Pride
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Smith Farms
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Sustainable Livestock
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Antibiotic Resistance
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Vertical Integration
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Natural Meat
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Organic Meat
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Recommendations  
Table 1: Top Ten
Animal Waste Producing States

Ranks/State
(in billions)

Pounds of waste

1. Texas

220

2. California

110

3. Iowa

102

4. Nebraska

94

5. Kansas

92

6. Wisconsin

78

7. Oklahoma

72

8. Missouri

70

9. Minnesota

66

10. North Carolina

62
(Source for comparison: Environmental Defense, http://www.scoreboard.org/env-releases/aw/rank-states.tcl?drop_down_name=Total+animal+waste. ED figures based on 1997 data. CU calculates waste production to be 280 billion pounds based on 1998 and 1999 animal inventory data.)

Table 2. Texas Waterways
Impaired by CAFO Facilities

Water Body
Impaired Area
Impact

Wright Patman Lake

5,000 acres

No longer supports aquatic life

Lake O' the Pines

18,707 acres

Only partially supporting aquatic life

Big Cypress Creek (below Lake Bob Sandlin)

55 miles

No longer supports fish consumption; Only partially supports aquatic life

Black Bayou

24 miles

No longer supports aquatic life

Leon River (below Proctor Lake)

118 miles

No longer supports contact recreation (human use)

North Bosque River

178 miles

No longer supports contact recreation

Upper North Bosque River

13 miles

No longer supports aquatic life; No longer supports contact recreation

Total impaired stream miles

388 miles

Total impaired lake acres

23,707 acres

Source: Texas Non-print Source Pollution Assessment Report and Management Program (TNRCC, 1999)
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