National Organic Standards on Outdoor Access/Pasture Requirements for Organic Animals/Livestock

Web Note: Even though USDA National Organic Program (NOP) Standards require Outdoor Access/Pasture for Organic Animals/Livestock, many "organic" producers and companies are violating federal regulations by keeping animals in confinement feedlots and barns, aided and abetted by a number of unscrupulous organic certifiers and bureaucrats in the USDA. For example,for four years the National Organic Standards Board, the organic community watchdog, has called on the USDA NOP to clarify and enforce mandatory pasture requirements for organic dairy cattle, but so far the USDA has done nothing but stall.

From: James Riddle, Chair of National Organic Standards Board Date:

Oct. 21, 2005 2005

The National Organic Program regulations require that organic livestock farmers provide for the natural behavior of the animals in several sections, and cited below:

p§ 205.238 Livestock health care practice standard. (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;

§ 205.239 Livestock living conditions. (a) The producer of an organic livestock operation must establish and maintain livestock living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of animals, including: (1) Access to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, fresh air, and direct sunlight suitable to the species, its stage of production, the climate, and the environment; (2) Access to pasture for ruminants; (3) Appropriate clean, dry bedding. If the bedding is typically consumed by the animal species, it must comply with the feed requirements of § 205.237; (4) Shelter designed to allow for: (i) Natural maintenance, comfort behaviors, and opportunity to exercise; (ii) Temperature level, ventilation, and air circulation suitable to the species; and (iii) Reduction of potential for livestock injury;

You can access the entire regulation at www.ams.usda.gov/nop

Jim Riddle