Livestock waste: an environmental problem or a public-health threat

Livestock production generates enormous quantities of waste in the form of manure, urine, slurry and slaughter residues. When managed properly, livestock waste is a valuable agricultural input, contributing nutrients, organic matter and energy. When mismanaged, however, it becomes a significant source of environmental pollution and an emerging public-health threat. With the intensification of livestock production and increasing proximity between animals and human settlements, particularly in peri-urban and urban areas, the risks associated with livestock waste are growing rapidly.