ANIMAL FEEDLOTS—A POLICY STATEMENT WITH BACKGROUND

The Committee on Environmental Health of the Indiana Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics sought the assistance of the Academy's Committee on Environmental Hazards regarding a developing health risk to children in Indiana. A cattle feedlot was developed along the shores of a creek which empties into a lake where recreational use included an area specifically designated for swimming. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the wastes produced by farm animals in the United States are equivalent to the wastes of 2 billion people, more than half the world population of 3.7 billion people. It has further estimated that more than half of these wastes are produced in feedlots. Feedlots for livestock and poultry are a relatively new industry that has developed since World War II in various parts of the United States. Significant changes are occurring in the increased demand for meats and in the manner of feeding, processing, and marketing livestock. Feedlots are now being established closer to market areas throughout the nation. With the increasing number of animals and the increasing use of feedlots, it is necessary that some wastes management system be required to protect the human population from a number of infectious diseases. Animal wastes from feedlots are more infectious than wastes from grazing farm animals because of naturally occurring epizootics within such confined feeding facilities. Chemical pollution by animal wastes or chemical changes incident to microbiologic or chemical pollution are also a concern. In the interest of our domestic water supply and the safe use of recreational waters, both vital to the health of children, the Committee has approved the following statement: