Livestock Certification

Origin Requirements, Exemptions, and Prohibitions

As a general rule, livestock products to be sold, labeled or represented as organic must be from animals under continuous organic management from the last third of gestation or hatching.

Exceptions to this rule include poultry, dairy animals and breeder stock. For poultry, management must begin on the second day of life. Dairy animals may vary depending on their point in the transition process. Breeder stock may be brought into the process at anytime as long as those with offspring are brought in no later than the last third of gestation.

The following forms of livestock are prohibited from being sold, represented or labeled as organic in any way:

1. Livestock that has been removed from organic management at any time prior to being sold
2. Dairy stock that has not been under continuous management since the last 1/3 of gestation may not be sold for organic slaughter
3. Livestock for which the grower does not have the required documentation to prove organic authenticity.

Livestock Feed

Any food or food sources, whether processed or in the form of pasture for grazing must be certified organic under the USDA-NOP provisions for producers, processors and handlers. During the grazing season, ruminants must receive at least 30% of their dry matter intake from grazing and for no less than 120 days per year. Only breeder bulls may be exempt from this as long as they are not sold as slaughter stock. Growers must keep detailed records of all feed, grazing schedules and supplements and no hormones, antibiotics or any banned medications may be used under any scenario. Records, labels and proof of organic certification of any product entering an animal must be up to date and readily available for inspection at any time.

Healthcare Practices

The producer of any organic livestock must establish and maintain a preventative healthcare plan for all animals. This should include selecting the best species for the growing location and environment, having a ration plan to ensure a balanced and nutritional diet, establishing sanitary pasture and housing spaces, allowing adequate exercise, freedom of movement and reduction of stress appropriate to each species and any needed or required vaccines or other veterinary biologics.

There are a few exemptions to this under USDA rule 205.603, most notably being the ability to administer synthetic medication for breeder stock prior to the last third of gestation, but not during lactation for progeny and for dairy stock when used a minimum of 90 days prior to production for sale.

Abusive Practices

Under no circumstances may a producer withhold medical treatment from a sick animal in an effort to preserve organic status. All appropriate medications must be used to restore an animal to health when methods acceptable to organic production fail. Once treated conventionally, no animal may be sold, labeled or represented as organic.

Labeling

If a harvester or producer plans on selling livestock with the use of a label displaying the USDA Certified Organic logo, claiming a product to be 100% organic or made with organic ingredients, labels must be designed and submitted to the certifying agent for approval to ensure compliance with the USDA-NOP standards.