Pollution associated with intensive livestock-production units

Abstract

In order to take advantage of market proximity, intensive livestock-production units are established on the outskirts of cities. Approximately 70 percent of the poultry and pigs in the Republic is kept in the Transvaal and Western Cape. The total amount of wastes produced in intensive animal units in South Africa is estimated at 9,8 million tons per annum. Waste contains large amounts of plant nutrients, and if handling is incorrect, serious pollution will occur. Pollution takes place when plant nutrients and salts infiltrate the soil in excess of the crop requirement and would result in saline soil or pollution of the groundwater. Waste washed away by surface run-off, will render rivers and dams useless. Water contaminated with pathogenes present in animal waste can cause and spread disease. Although the technology for the safe handling of animal waste exists, the number of cases of pollution is annually increasing.