CAFO_Content Page_Burr Oak Heifers permit

Burr Oak Heifers CAFO Permit

The Department of Natural Resources has reissued the Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES) permit for Burr Oak Heifers (formerly Opitz Custom Heifers).

The redeveloped Burr Oak facility includes four freestall barns, which will house 3,100 heifers or 2,675 animal units. Specifically, Burr Oak will house 1,470 heifers between 400-800 pounds and 1,630 heifers between 800-1200 pounds. The heifers will produce an estimated 3.32 million gallons of liquid manure and 45,900 tons of solid manure on an annual basis. Manure and process wastewater will be stored in a liquid tight concrete lined manure storage structure with a total capacity of 7.05 million gallons.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) like Burr Oak Heifers are required to obtain a WPDES permit. The permit regulates how CAFOs store and land apply manure and process wastewater – e.g. milking center wastes and feed storage leachate – in order to protect water quality.

WPDES permit and related documents

Nutrient Management Plan (NMP)

The DNR reviewed Burr Oak’s Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) and issued a conditional approval on May 1, 2013. The department received an update to the NMP in April of 2014. The update is available upon request.