MWE TOI PROJECT
Mentoring Women for Entrepreneurship
Project Nº 2013-1-ES1-LEO05-67314
ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Module 3
Module 3 -ANIMAL HUSBANDRY IN ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL HUSBANDRY IN ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Content:
1. Animal species suitable for organic agriculture
1.1. Conversion criteria and conditions used for organic livestock
farming
1.2. Animal species and breeds adapted to organic agriculture
system
2. Feeding animals in organic agriculture conditions
2.1. Conversion criteria for pastures
2.2. Organic fodder and administration
CANIMAL HUSBANDRY IN ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE
3. Providing care for animals in organic agriculture conditions
3.1. Resizing shelters and paddocks
3.2. Hygiene of the shelters
3.3. Techniques and tools for animal care
4. Specific rules of biosecurity, welfare and
environmental protection in organic livestock
farms
Learning outcomes
• The course participant is able to identify the animal species that
are suitable for organic livestock farming and exploitation
• The course participant knows the criteria for converting the
livestock to organic farming conditions
• The course participant is able to feed the animals in organic
agriculture conditions
• The course participant is able to provide care for animals in
organic agriculture conditions
• The course participant knows and is able to apply specific rules
of biosecurity, welfare and environmental protection in organic
livestock farms
1.1. Conversion criteria and conditions used for
organic livestock farming
The conversion supposes: applying a management system that
ensures THE WELFARE OF ANIMALS, namely:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Sufficient and balanced food, based on grazing and fodder
Adequate loading of animals, without overgrazing
Animal housing and hygiene
Careful treatment
Prophylaxis
External resources ecological
1.1. Conversion criteria and conditions used for
organic livestock farming
The conversion in livestock production includes
simoultaneously:
A. The conversion of the land for the livestock
production.
B. The conversion of animals.
DURATION OF THE CONVERSION OF ANIMALS
AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS
HORSE AND CATTLE FOR MEAT
PRODUCTION
12 months
SMALL RUMINANTS
6 months
MILK COWS
6 months
PIGS
6 months
POULTRY FOR EGG PRODUCTION
6 weeks
POULTRY FOR MEAT PRODUCTION
10 weeks
BEES IN THE CONVENTIONAL SYSTEM
1 year
Maximum number of animals per ha.
overgrazing
Nª/ Ha
( 170kg. N /ha/ year )
Horses > 6 luni
Milk cows
Male bovines >2 years
2
Male bovines < 1 year
5
Bovines – male and female (1-2 years)
3,3
Female < 1 an
2,5
Sheep and goats
13,3
Sows
6,5
Pig meat
14
Pigs
74
Rabbits
100
Poultry meat
580
Poultry eggs
230
MINIMUM SURFACE FOR ENSURING HEALTHY AND
PRODUCTIVE ANIMALS IN ORGANIC CONDITIONS
MINIMUM SURFACE FOR ENSURING
HEALTHY AND PRODUCTIVE ANIMALS IN
ORGANIC CONDITIONS
IN SHELTER
OUTSIDE
Horses> 6 months
Oxen>2 years
5 m2/animal
33, 7 m2/animal
Buffalos
10
30
Milk cows
6
4,5
Sheep and goats
1,5
2,5
Breeding pigs
6
8
Pg meat
1.3
1
Pigs
O,6 m2/c
0,4 m2/c
Poultry
6 c/m2
Eggs
10 c/ m2
LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION IN ORGANIC
CONDITIONS
In order for a livestock farm to be certified as organic it
needs to have:
•
•
•
•
•
Certified animals.
Certified pastures.
Certified fodder crops.
Certified technological flow.
Certified treatments.
1.2. Animal species and breeds adapted to
organic agriculture system
• Species: cattle, sheep, swine, horses, birds, small
animals, bees
• Breeds:
 locals - improved primitive, able to adapt to local
conditions, vitality and their resistance to diseases
and health problems.
 imported– refined primitive
• Origin
 During the conversion period the animals must come
from organic farms or farms under conversion.
2. Feeding animals in organic agriculture
conditions
The key point of livestock growing in extensive system
refers to animal density that may not exceed 2 LU
(livestock units) per hectare.
The density of conventional animals on pasture should
not be higher than stated in the regulation, so that the
amount of manure on pasture corresponds to 170 kg of
nitrogen per hectare per year, in the same way as for the
organic livestock.
It is not allowed that organic and conventional animals
graze on the same pasture at the same time. In all
theses cases, the farmer must seek approval from the
inspection body that needs to check the farm.
2.1. Conversion criteria for pastures
• The livestock must be fed with organic products.
• In the case of the mammals, the food must conform to their
nutritional requirements.
• The feeding must be natural; that is why young animals must be
fed with whole milk, preferably maternal milk.
• All mammals must be fed with natural milk for a minimum period
(3 months- bovine and equine, 45 days - sheep and goats and 40
days –pig), while artificial milk is not accepted.
Herbivores:
•
•
they must be kept as long as possible on the pastures, if the
weather conditions do not endanger the health of the animals (or
the quality of the pastures);
at least 60% of the dried substance of the daily rations must be in
the form of roughage, fresh or dried fodder or silage.
2. 2. Organic fodder and administration
COMPOSITION OF THE FODDER
FODDER STUFF
DRIED MASS
ORGANIC SUBSTANCE
ALBUMIN
FIBERS
AMIDINE AND SUGAR,
CARBOHYDRATES
FAT
ASH (SAND,
MINERALS)
WATER
ACTION OF NUTRIENTS
GROUP OF
SUBSTANCES
MEANING
Albumin (protein)
Amino acids, proteins,
non-protein nitrogen
Development of of albumin
in the animal body (muscle,
hair, lactalbumin)
Fat
Fats, fatty acids
Energy, development of the
fat lawyer
Fibers (raw fibers)
Vegetal fibers, wooden
material
Pigs: important for digestion
NfE (carbohydrates)
Sugar, amidine
Energy for the metabolism
ADMINISTRATION OF ORGANIC FODDERS
MIX FOR VEALS:
MIX FOR FATENNING PIGS
UP TO 60 KG
Cereals
30 %
Wheat
45 %
Soy groats
22 %
Vegetable oil
1%
Mineral supliment
2%
MIX FOR POULTRY
Corn
Wheat and barley
Soy and sunflower
groats + alfalfa
Natural additives (salt,
calcium, phosphorus,
vitamins and minerals
from rocks)
50 %
25 %
20 %
5%
Corn
40 %
Oat
Bran
Soy groats
Salt
Calcium carbonate
30 %
20%
8%
1%
1%
FOOD FOR THE HERBIVORES
• In the case of herbivores, except during the annual transhumance,
according to Regulation (EC) no. 889/2008, Article 17 (4), at least 50%
of the feed shall come from the farm unit itself or, if not possible, are
produced in cooperation with other organic farms mainly located in
the same region.
• The systems for growing herbivores are based on the maximum use of
grazing pasturage according to the availability of pastures in the
different periods of the year.
• At least 60% of the dry matter in daily rations of herbivores shall
consist of roughage, fresh or dried silage.
• It is allowed a reduction to 50% for animals in dairy production for a
maximum period of three months at the beginning of the lactation
period.
BREEDING
• The organic livestock farming promotes native breeds and hybrids,
with great natural strength, good breeding indices, high vitality and
joint productions.
• Utmost importance is given to qualitative characteristics of
production and not the quantity.
• It is forbidden the use of artificial induction of polyploidy, artificial
hybridisation, cloning and production mono-sex lines, except
manual selection.
• Specific conditions for each species are
established as regards the management
of genitors, reproduction and
production of young livestock.
3. Providing care for animals in organic
agriculture conditions
3.1. Resizing shelters and paddocks
Shelters: big, east-oriented
Density will ensure animal welfare, giving them enough space
to sit comfortably upright, lie down easily, turn round, to allow
any position and any natural movement, such as: lying down
for the cattle and wings beating of birds.
The minimum surface for indoor and outdoor areas and other
characteristics of housing for different species and categories of
animals are set out in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 889/2008.
Paddocks: increased brightness coefficient.
3.2. Hygiene of the shelters
 During the conversion period, the norms of the Regulation (CE) no. 834/2007 and
889/2009 must be applied.
It is forbidden:
• the use of allopathic veterinary medicinal products obtained by chemical synthesis or
antibiotics for preventive treatments.
• substances to stimulate growth or production and the use of hormones or similar
substances to control reproduction or for other purposes.
 The shelters, enclosures, equipment and utensils must be properly cleaned and
disinfected to prevent infection and emergence of disease carrying organisms.
 The excrements, urine and uneaten or spilled food must be removed as often as
necessary to minimize smell and to avoid attracting insects or rodents.
 To eliminate insects and other pests in buildings and other facilities where animals are
kept, it is possible to use only products listed in Annex VII to R (EC) no. 834/2007.
 When the animals sick or injured, they will be treated immediately, if necessary in
isolation and in suitable housing.
3.3. Techniques and tools for animal care
3.3.1. Body hygiene
Species Operatio Necessary
n
materials
Cattle
Bandage - wisp of
Horses
straw
- harrow
- brush
- cloth
(sponge)
- comb
- scissors
- special
brush
Tasks to be done
- rubbing with straw wisp
- the soft parts are rubbed down, from
head to tail, except bone angles of a body
region
- the hair is brushed up and back in order to
remove dust and dirt, with a special brush,
from the head to the tail region
- the bone angles are cleaned with a brush
- the whole body is cleaned with a cloth
wipe from head to tail to remove dust and
give characteristic luster
- for the horses, the topknot, mane and tail
should be brushed
- for the cattle, the tail should be brushed
3.3.2 Health conditions of animals – Treatment
Herbal products, homeopathic treatment and oligoelements are preferred
to the antibiotics or the allopathic chemically synthesized veterinary
treatments, provided that their therapeutic effect is effective.
If they are ineffective, antibiotics and allopathic chemically synthesized
products may be used under the responsibility of a veterinarian.
With the exception of vaccines, treatments for parasites and compulsory
eradication schemes, when an animal or group of animals receive more
than three series of treatments with allopathic chemically synthesized
products or antibiotics within 12 months, or more than one treatment if
their productive life cycle is less than one year, such animals or products
derived from them cannot be considered organic, and the livestock shall
undergo the conversion periods.
4. Specific rules of biosecurity, welfare and
environmental protection in organic livestock
farms
To avoid contamination of soil with manure, it is not allowed to set up a livestock farm
unless there is adequate land area required for the number of animals, depending on the
species.
Under Article 3 (3) of Regulation (EC) 889/2008, livestock production is prohibited without
land, when the owner does not manage the agricultural land and / or has not established a
written cooperation agreement with another operator .
For the grassland used for the grazing herbivores, the regulation prohibits increasing the
load of animals per hectare, the maximum number of heads must be established so that
that the amount of nitrogen as manure does not exceed 170 kg / ha. This limit applies
exclusively for the use of manure, dry manure and dehydrated poultry manure, compost of
animal excrements, including poultry manure, compost of manure and liquid animal
excrements.
Manure from animals under conversion will be administered on lands under conversion or
in conventional agriculture.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling
of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91;
2. Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the
implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 on organic production and
labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control.
3. Organic agriculture manual, (course handbook), Ion Toncea Enuţă Simion, Georgeta Ioniţă
Niţu, Daniela Alexandrescu Vladimir Adrian Toncea
4. Organic technologies in husbandry, Mariana Gherman, Printing house: Risoprint, 2012