Livestock Feed

• (a) The producer of an organic livestock operation must provide livestock with a total feed ration composed of agricultural products, including pasture and forage, that are organically produced and handled by operations certified to the NOP, except as provided in §205.236(a)(2)(i), except, that, synthetic substances allowed under §205.603 and nonsynthetic substances not prohibited under §205.604 may be used as feed additives and feed supplements, Provided,That, all agricultural ingredients included in the ingredients list, for such additives and supplements, shall have been produced and handled organically.

(b) The producer of an organic operation must not:

(1) Use animal drugs, including hormones, to promote growth;

(2) Provide feed supplements or additives in amounts above those needed for adequate nutrition and health maintenance for the species at its specific stage of life;

(3) Feed plastic pellets for roughage;

(4) Feed formulas containing urea or manure;

(5) Feed mammalian or poultry slaughter by-products to mammals or poultry;

(6) Use feed, feed additives, and feed supplements in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act;

(7) Provide feed or forage to which any antibiotic including ionophores has been added; or

(8) Prevent, withhold, restrain, or otherwise restrict ruminant animals from actively obtaining feed grazed from pasture during the grazing season, except for conditions as described under §205.239(b) and (c).

(c) During the grazing season, producers shall:

(1) Provide not more than an average of 70 percent of a ruminant's dry matter demand from dry matter fed (dry matter fed does not include dry matter grazed from residual forage or vegetation rooted in pasture). This shall be calculated as an average over the entire grazing season for each type and class of animal. Ruminant animals must be grazed throughout the entire grazing season for the geographical region, which shall be not less than 120 days per calendar year. Due to weather, season, and/or climate, the grazing season may or may not be continuous.

(2) Provide pasture of a sufficient quality and quantity to graze throughout the grazing season and to provide all ruminants under the organic system plan with an average of not less than 30 percent of their dry matter intake from grazing throughout the grazing season: Except, That,

(i) Ruminant animals denied pasture in accordance with §205.239(b)(1) through (8), and §205.239(c)(1) through (3), shall be provided with an average of not less than 30 percent of their dry matter intake from grazing throughout the periods that they are on pasture during the grazing season;

(ii) Breeding bulls shall be exempt from the 30 percent dry matter intake from grazing requirement of this section and management on pasture requirement of §205.239(c)(2); Provided, That, any animal maintained under this exemption shall not be sold, labeled, used, or represented as organic slaughter stock.

(d) Ruminant livestock producers shall:

(1) Describe the total feed ration for each type and class of animal. The description must include:

(i) All feed produced on-farm;

(ii) All feed purchased from off-farm sources;

(iii) The percentage of each feed type, including pasture, in the total ration; and

(iv) A list of all feed supplements and additives.

(2) Document the amount of each type of feed actually fed to each type and class of animal.

(3) Document changes that are made to all rations throughout the year in response to seasonal grazing changes.

(4) Provide the method for calculating dry matter demand and dry matter intake.

Source:

USDA. (2010, February 17). Livestock Feed. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34bdbf0dde3f0a311a67101f04678b55&mc=true&node=se7.3.205_1237&rgn=div8

Animal Healthcare

(a) The producer must establish and maintain preventive livestock health care practices, including:

(1) Selection of species and types of livestock with regard to suitability for site-specific conditions and resistance to prevalent diseases and parasites;

(2) Provision of a feed ration sufficient to meet nutritional requirements, including vitamins, minerals, protein and/or amino acids, fatty acids, energy sources, and fiber (ruminants);

(3) Establishment of appropriate housing, pasture conditions, and sanitation practices to minimize the occurrence and spread of diseases and parasites;

(4) Provision of conditions which allow for exercise, freedom of movement, and reduction of stress appropriate to the species;

(5) Performance of physical alterations as needed to promote the animal's welfare and in a manner that minimizes pain and stress; and

(6) Administration of vaccines and other veterinary biologics.

(b) When preventive practices and veterinary biologics are inadequate to prevent sickness, a producer may administer synthetic medications: Provided, That, such medications are allowed under §205.603. Parasiticides allowed under §205.603 may be used on:

(1) Breeder stock, when used prior to the last third of gestation but not during lactation for progeny that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organically produced; and

(2) Dairy stock, when used a minimum of 90 days prior to the production of milk or milk products that are to be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

(c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must not:

(1) Sell, label, or represent as organic any animal or edible product derived from any animal treated with antibiotics, any substance that contains a synthetic substance not allowed under §205.603, or any substance that contains a nonsynthetic substance prohibited in §205.604.

(2) Administer any animal drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness;

(3) Administer hormones for growth promotion;

(4) Administer synthetic parasiticides on a routine basis;

(5) Administer synthetic parasiticides to slaughter stock;

(6) Administer animal drugs in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; or

(7) Withhold medical 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.

Source:

USDA. (2018, March 12). Livestock health care practice standard. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34bdbf0dde3f0a311a67101f04678b55&mc=true&node=se7.3.205_1238&rgn=div8

a. The farm must be visited by an Organic standards agent to assure proper practices and sustainability. Agents will:

1.) Inspect the farm based on a set list of requirements for the farm twice a year on a regular schedule. On occasion they will inspect for a surprise third visit to make sure everything is running under proper regulations.

2.) Provide a score, either A, B, or C. If a farmer is unable to math the regulations and receives any score below a C, their organic certification will be removed. Scores will be given after each inspection.

• Any farm to receive an A grade will receive a government stipend for each pound of beef and/or gallon of milk produced.

Map of United States Agricultural Spacing - It is possible to resource feed for cattle locally.

a. A cows diet must consist of:

1.) At least 30% of food intake must be from grazing(already required by USDA), but is a good idea to uphold.

i.) During the spring and summer months the cows should only graze. Supplemental feeding should only be employed during months where the ground is frozen or grass is unavailable.

2.) Supplemental feeding must be provided for pregnant or lactating cows so they receive the proper vitamins and minerals in their diet. (Tasmania, 2017)

3.) Supplemental feed should be sourced within the same county or in bordering counties by organic farmer, or as locally as possible.

4.) Make sure that the plant makeup of the pasture is varied as to supply the cows with the proper amount of nutrients that they need and to prevent over-eating of the same plant type. (Tasmania, 2017)

5.) Feed must consist only of grass, oats, hay, milo, barley, alfalfa, oilseed and silage. The feed must all follow the agricultural produce guidelines, and no feed have GMO treatment. Do NOT feed organic cows corn! (What do beef cattle eat)

b. Feed cannot consist of:

1.) Growth hormones mixed into the food (USDA, 2010)

2.) Grass or grazing pasture sprayed with any pesticides (USDA, 2010)

3.) Feed that has been treated with pesticides, growth hormones, or herbicides of any kind (USDA, 2010)

4.) Urea or manure (USDA, 2010)

i.) If it is contaminated the feed must be composted and replaced with new feed for the cows consumption.

c. Use non-permanent fencing to employ the method of rotational grazing to ensure:

1.) The pasture remains healthy and continues to grow. An overused pasture results in compaction of the soil. In an overused pasture the plants are eaten down to a point where they cannot recover and grow the proper amount of foliage.

a. Antibiotics may be given to a cow given that:

1.) The farmer has noticed the sick cows reduction in movement and a series of ill symptoms (including but not limited to coughing, high fever, runny eyes, or nose) and has a vet diagnose the illness. After a government certified vet diagnoses the sick cow a scale of quarantine measures should be followed depending upon how bad and contagious the cow’s sickness is. If cow has common cold- less quarantine is needed. If the cow has a fatal sickness such as foot and mouth disease then it should be quarantined for an extended period of time. If after two to three days the cow’s symptoms do not improve, no matter the disease, antibiotics prescribed by the vet can be used. (Grandin, Biotechnology and animal welfare, 1991)

2.) The antibiotics cannot be used as growth hormone or a substitute for a growth hormone. If this is discovered the farmer will be highly fined and lose their organic certification and the vet prescribing the medications will lose their license.

b. When beginning an organic farm or introducing new animals into the farm the animals must:

1.) Not be of foreign nature to the area (i.e. have zero threat of introducing invasive pests and bacteria to the area.) (USDA, 2010)

2.) It is highly recommended to purchase calves or cattle from organic farmers within the same county or reproduce cattle.

3.) Cows allowed outdoor access (area to roam and graze) year-round

Organic Livestock should be able to be treated with antibiotics

• If a cow is sick with a contagious disease, fatal or not, it should be able to be treated. In order to prevent farmers from getting antibiotics to use as growth hormones, they must show proof that the cow is actually sick by not allowing their sick cow near the other cows, but still treat them humanely by putting them in a hay-padded stress free, isolated condition. If the illnesses has not gone away in two to three day time period, the singular cow may then be treated with antibiotics prescribed by a vet. (Five Common Illnesses, 2014)
• It is not necessary to put down a sick cow unless they are certainly going to die and in a lot of pain. It is a waste for the farmer, and creates more emissions by requiring the farmer to purchase and transport a new cow to their farm. They also are difficult to dispose of since they will spread the illness if not disposed of properly.
• If a cow is sick they may have diarrhea or gastro-intestinal issues which will cause them to excrete more methane into the air and create manure which is unviable for soil use due to the bacteria. It is best to treat the animal so they do not pollute the air more than they already do, nor pollute the soils from the illness.

Corn is Insufficient as Cow Feed

• Cows are not evolved in such a way that their diet should consist of corn. Cows do not digest and receive proper nutrients from corn. Cows are ruminants which means they have a stomach called a Rumen. Having a Rumen means that they are better biologically suited to eat grasses. Unlike many animals, cows can actually eat cellulose and break it down into usable protein and energy for their bodies. (Tasmania, 2017)
• Cows' naturally intended diet is not corn. Eating corn can cause imbalances in the cows' body which could help promote sickness. (Pollan, PBS 2014)
• Reducing the risk of sickness on an organic farm is key for a productive business.
• So much corn is grown in this nation specifically for cows and they should not even be eating it. A shift in crop diversity is needed. Not subsidizing corn so much would change what people choose to grow.

PBS, & Pollan, M. (2014). Interview Michael Pollan. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/interviews/pollan.html

Tasmania. (2017). Hobby Farmers Basic Nutrition for Cattle. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from http://dpipwe.tas.gov.au/Documents/cattlefeed.pdf

USDA. (2010, February 17). Livestock Feed. Retrieved March 14, 2018, from https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SID=34bdbf0dde3f0a311a67101f04678b55&mc=true&node=se7.3.205_1237&rgn=div8

5 Common Livestock Illnesses: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention. (2014, August 11). Retrieved March 15, 2018, from https://www.nelsonmfg.com/blog/5-common-livestock-illnesses-symptoms-treatment-and-prevention/

What do beef cattle eat? (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2018, from http://animalsmart.org/species/cattle/what-do-beef-cattle-eat-

Grandin, T. (1991). Biotechnology and animal welfare. In Animal Biotechnology and the Quality of Meat Production (pp. 145-157).