2008 Final Federal CAFO Rule Frequently Asked Questions

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Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (2/10/09)
2008 FINAL FEDERAL CAFO RULE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q #1: What is an “AFO”?
A #1: The term “animal feeding operation” (AFO) is defined as a “lot or facility” where animals “have been,
are or will be stabled or confined and fed or maintained for a total of 45 days or more in any 12-month period
and crops, vegetation, forage growth, or post harvest residues are not sustained in the normal growing season
over any portion of the lot or facility.” An operation must be defined as an AFO before it can be defined as a
concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO). Whether an AFO is a CAFO depends primarily whether
there is a discharge of livestock waste to a river, lake or stream.
Q #2: What is a Large CAFO?
A #2: An AFO is defined as a Large CAFO if it stables or confines as many or more than the numbers of
animals specified in any of the following categories:
• 700 mature dairy cows, whether milked or dry;
• 1,000 veal calves;
• 1,000 cattle other than mature dairy cows or veal calves. Cattle includes but is not limited to heifers,
steers, bulls and cow/calf pairs;
• 2,500 swine, each weighing 55 pounds or more;
• 10,000 swine, each weighing less than 55 pounds;
• 500 horses;
• 10,000 sheep or lambs;
• 55,000 turkeys;
• 30,000 laying hens or broilers, if the AFO uses a liquid manure handling system;
• 125,000 chickens (other than laying hens), if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure handling
system;
• 82,000 laying hens, if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure handling system;
• 30,000 ducks (if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure handling system); or
• 5,000 ducks (if the AFO uses a liquid manure handling system)
Q #3: What is a Medium CAFO?
A #3: The term Medium CAFO includes any AFO with the type and number of animals that fall within any
of the ranges listed below and which has been defined or designated as a CAFO. An AFO is defined as a
Medium CAFO if:
1. The type and number of animals that it stables or confines falls within any of the following ranges:
• 200 to 699 mature dairy cows, whether milked or dry;
• 300 to 999 veal calves;
• 300 to 999 cattle other than mature dairy cows or veal calves. Cattle includes but is not limited to
heifers, steers, bulls and cow/calf pairs;
• 750 to 2,499 swine each weighing 55 pounds or more;
• 3,000 to 9,999 swine each weighing less than 55 pounds;
• 150 to 499 horses;
• 3,000 to 9,999 sheep or lambs;
• 16,500 to 54,999 turkeys;
• 9,000 to 29,999 laying hens or broilers, if the AFO uses a liquid manure handling system;
• 37,500 to 124,999 chickens (other than laying hens), if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure
handling system;
• 25,000 to 81,999 laying hens, if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure handling system;
• 10,000 to 29,999 ducks (if the AFO uses other than a liquid manure handling system); or
• 1,500 to 4,999 ducks (if the AFO uses a liquid manure handling system);