Introduction to Organic Meat
Goats and Lambs
Linda Coffey, NCAT
Photo by Margo Hale
My goal today:
• Give each of you information about
organic goat and lamb production and
marketing
• Point to further resources
• Answer questions
Now, a word from the audience:
• What do you want to learn today?
• What do you already know about
“organics”?
What is “organic”?
• Is it the same as “natural”?
• “Natural” has no official definition except
“Minimally processed, no artificial
ingredients, no preservatives.” (USDA)
– No implants?
– No chemicals?
– Grass-fed?
– Other?
What does “organic” mean?
• A production system that “respond[s] to site-specific
conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and
mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources,
promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity”
• A production system that
meets all the requirements
of the National Organic
Program Regulations as
defined in 7 CFR Part 205
What about organic goats and
lambs?
• Fed 100% organic feed
• Not administered any synthetic medicines or
hormones
• Not factory farmed
• Had access to fresh pasture or range (and
grazed at least 120 days, getting 30% or more of
nutrition from pasture during that time)
• Meat was not irradiated
• Raised by producer who is certified or registered
with the state (registered if less than $5,000/yr)
Why farm organically?
• Organic agriculture is a soil-based system,
placing emphasis on building the soil and
encouraging health of soil, plants, animals,
and people
• Organic products sell for a premium to
people who want to support the organic
philosophy or are concerned about their
health
How do you get started?
• Find a certifier
• Learn the regulations
• Write a plan for your farm that complies
with regulations
• Follow that plan and keep records to prove
it (retain records 5 years)
• Become certified ( 3-year transition period)
• Be inspected annually
Timeline for transitioning
a ranch operation
Land
Prohibited
materials
last applied
Organic
Pasture/
Cropland
36 months
Organic
Slaughter
Conception
First 2/3
gestation
Birth
Last 1/3
gestation
Animals
Getting started
• See ATTRA’s Guide to Organic
Publications, especially “Organic
Certification Process” publication
• Visit the National Organic Program (NOP)
web site
• Read Langston University’s Organic Meat
Goat Production module by Roger Merkel
What needs to be certified?
• Land—pasture & feed-producing cropland
3 years w/o prohibited substances
• Animals
organic management from last third of
gestation
• Production Facility
contamination issues
• Processing
processing facility must be certified
requires a separate application and plan
Highly Recommended:
Organic Livestock
Documentation Forms
https://attra.ncat.org/attrapub/summaries/summary.php?pub=171
♦ inventory ♦ compost production ♦ breeding records ♦ sales ♦
♦ outdoor access calendar ♦ pasture access calendar ♦
For a Print Copy Call:
1-800-346-9140
Highly Recommended:
NCAT’s
Guide for Organic Livestock
Producers
https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=154
For a Print Copy Call:
1-800-346-9140
Areas of consideration
•
•
•
•
•
Livestock origin
Feed (100% organic)
Health care
PROCESSING
Marketing
Origin of slaughter livestock
Livestock products that are to be sold,
labeled, or represented as organic must
be from livestock under continuous
organic management from the last third of
gestation…
§205.236(a)
Breeder…stock that has not been under
continuous organic management since
the last third of gestation may not be sold,
labeled, or represented as organic
slaughter stock
§205.236(b)(2)
Livestock feed
• 100% Organic Feed Required
• Feed Storage Must Ensure Organic
Integrity
• Feed Processing Must Ensure Organic
Integrity
Access to pasture rule
• Animals must be on pasture grazing at
least 120 days per year.
• Minimum of an average of 30 percent dry
matter intake during grazing season.
• Year-round access to outdoors.
Access to pasture rule
Producers must:
– have a pasture management plan:
– manage pasture as a crop
• to meet the feed requirements for the grazing animals
and
• to protect soil and water quality
• See ATTRA’s “Pasture for Organic
Ruminant Livestock” publication for full
details and helpful worksheets; go to
www.attra.ncat.org
Pasture and range must
be organic
Bedding must be organic
Health care for organic livestock:
Prevention
• Livestock Species & Type Selection
[§205.238(a)(1)]
• Adequate Nutrition [§205.238(a)(2)]
• Appropriate Housing, Pasture, & Sanitation
[§205.238(a)(3)]
• Freedom of Movement; Stress Reduction
[§205.238(a)(4)]
• Appropriate Low Stress Physical
Alterations [§205.238(a)(5)]
• Vaccines & Veterinary Biologics
[§205.238(a)(6)]
Providing good nutrition and a low-stress environment
$$$
Health care for organic livestock:
Therapies, etc.
• Natural Therapies (herbs, homeopathy, flower
remedies, essential oils, acupuncture, radionics)
• Synthetic Medications on the National List
at §205.603 [§205.238(b)]
• Nonsynthetic Pest Controls (traps,
botanicals, biologicals, minerals)
• Synthetic Parasiticides on the National List
at §205.603(13) [§205.238(b)]
Synthetic parasiticides
• Ivermectin, currently on the National List
§205.603(13), however:
 prohibited in organic slaughter stock
 allowed in breeder stock but prohibited during
 last third of gestation
 Lactation
 (so, during the times of most need-- in lambs or
kids and during periparturient rise and early
lactation--you can’t use it)
• The producer of an organic livestock
operation must not [w]ithhold treatment
from a sick animal in an effort to preserve
its organic status. All appropriate
medications must be used to restore an
animal to health when methods
acceptable to organic production fail.
• Livestock treated with a prohibited
substance must be clearly identified and
shall not be sold, labeled, or represented
as organically produced.
–§205.238(c)(7)
Livestock recordkeeping
• Verification of organic status for new
animals
• Herd/flock health records
• Vaccination & medication labels
• Breeding records
• Slaughter & processing records
• Grazing and pasture records
• Feeding records
• Sales records
If you want to raise organic goats
or lambs:
• Learn about the certification process
• Investigate the market; can you sell
organic goats or lambs for a premium?
• FIND A PROCESSOR (certified organic);
this may be very difficult
• Learn all you can about managing grazing
so that nutrition and health are optimal
• Find a source of organic feed (your farm or
outside)
If you want to raise organic goats
or lambs, continued:
• Get your pastures certified (must be free
from prohibited substances for 3 years)
• Keep excellent records of everything; you
are required to plan and to show you
follow the plan to farm organically, so-• Learn what is allowed and what is not
• Get all the help you can from ATTRA
materials (see list provided)
Highly recommended:
• NCAT’s Guide for Organic Livestock
Producers, https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/
summaries/summary.php?pub=154
• For a print copy call: 1-800-346-9140
Highly recommended:
• Langston University’s web-based goat
production course includes a module
about organic meat goat production (also
relevant for lamb producers):
• www.luresext.edu/goats/training/qa.html
and “browse” and select chapter
• Don’t miss Assignment 2, page 9!
• ATTRA National Sustainable
Agriculture Information Service
• www.attra.ncat.org
• 800-346-9140
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is a nonprofit
organization that helps people and communities. NCAT champions smallscale, sustainable and local solutions to reduce poverty, protect
communities and promote natural resources. Since 1976, NCAT has
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demonstrated renewable technology. NCAT works on local and national
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