ORGANIC Livestock
What You Need To Know
Prepared by George Kuepper, Program Specialist
The National Center for Appropriate Technology’s ATTRA Project
© 2005
Highly Recommended:
NCAT’s
Organic Livestock Workbook
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/livestockworkbook.pdf
For a Print Copy Call:
1-800-346-9140
ORGANIC LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS:
What Can Be Certified
• Traditional Land-Based Systems
Integrated “High Farming”
Grazing and Range
• Non-Land-Based Systems
AREAS OF CONSIDERATION
FOR ORGANIC LIVESTOCK
PRODUCTION
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Origin of Livestock [§205.236]
Livestock Feed [§205.237]
Living Conditions [§205.239]
Waste Management [§205.239(c)]
Health Care [§205.238]
Record Keeping/Audit Trail [§205.103]
ORIGIN OF LIVESTOCK
NOP Policy April 11, 2003
Livestock Feed
• 100% Organic Feed Required
Exemption for distinct dairy herd
conversion
• Feed Storage Must Ensure Organic
Integrity
• Feed Processing Must Ensure
Organic Integrity
Livestock Feed
Prohibitions & Grey Areas
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Animal Drugs & Synthetic Hormones
Plastic Pellets
Urea
Manure
Slaughter By-Products
Notes On: Feed Supplements & Additives
Excessive feeding levels prohibited
Sunset (10/21/05) provision for dl-methionine
Emergency provision for milk replacer
Livestock Living Conditions
• Must Accommodate Natural Behavior
Outdoor access
Fresh air & sunlight
Exercise areas
• Shelter
Must allow natural maintenance & behavior,
exercise
Adequate temperatures, ventilation
Safety
Livestock Living Conditions
continued
• Access To Pasture For Ruminants
• Adequate Bedding Required
Bedding must be organic if consumed
• Temporary Confinement For:
Inclement weather
Stage of production
Health & safety of animal
Risk to soil & water quality
Waste Management
• Part of Standard for Living Conditions
• Manure must be managed in a
manner that does not contribute to
contamination of crops, soil, or water
by plant nutrients, heavy metals, or
pathogenic organisms and optimizes
recycling of nutrients [205.239(c)]
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)]
Health Care for Organic Livestock
Therapies
• 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 [§205.238(b)]
Record Keeping & Audit Control
• Livestock Records To Keep
Verification of Organic status for new animals
Herd/flock health records
Vaccination & medication labels
Breeding records
Slaughter & processing records
Sales records
• Audit Control
Organic Pasture Integrity Issues
• Treated fence posts
Existing installations are allowed on land in
transition
New installations are prohibited where they
can contaminate forages and animals
• Conventional grazing animals
Allowed as long as the land is managed
according to National Organic Program
requirements for organic crop production and
no contamination occurs
National Center for
Appropriate Technology
www.ncat.org
ATTRA
(Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas)
National Sustainable Agriculture
Information Service
www.attra.ncat.org
800-346-9140