Livestock
This section includes:
2.3 Livestock health care practice standard
2.1 Origin of livestock
Cross reference:
USDA NOP: 205.236 Origin of livestock
NZFSA Technical Rules for Organic Production:
- Section 6, point 6.2.3, 6.3.1-6.3.14
(a) Livestock products that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organic must be from livestock under continuous organic management from the last third of gestation or hatching: Except, that:
- Poultry: Poultry or edible poultry products must be from poultry that has been under continuous organic management beginning no later than the second day of life;
- Dairy animals: Milk or milk products must be from animals that have been under continuous organic management (fully certified property) beginning no later than 1 year prior to the production of the milk or milk products that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organic. Except, that, crops and forage from land included in the organic system plan of a dairy farm that is in the third year (C2) of organic management may be consumed by the dairy animals of the farm during the 12 month period immediately prior to the sale of organic milk and milk products.
Once an entire, distinct herd has been converted to full organic production, all dairy animals shall be under organic management from the last third of gestation.
Any organic animal that leaves a certified operation it loses its organic status when it enters a non-certified operation.
This Means: “All dairy animals that are being raised as organic must be managed in compliance with the USNOS (fully certified property) for a period of 12 months before milk or milk products from these animals will meet the requirements for export to the US. The exception to this rule is when the entire distinct herd of dairy animals is converted to organic the cows can be fed C2 crops or pasture during the 12 month period prior to full organic.
- Breeder stock: Livestock used as breeder stock may bebrought from a nonorganic operation onto an organic operation at any time: Provided, that, if such livestock are gestating and the offspring are to be raised as organic livestock, the breeder stock must be brought onto the facility no later than the last third of gestation.
(b) The following are prohibited:
- Livestock or edible livestock products that are removed from an organic operation and subsequently managed on a nonorganic operation may be not sold, labelled, or represented as organically produced.
- Breeder or dairy stock that has not been under continuous organic management since the last third of gestation may not be sold, labelled, or represented as organic slaughter stock.
(c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must maintain records sufficient to preserve the identity of all organically
managed animals and edible and nonedible animal products produced on the operation.
2.2 Livestock feed
Cross references:
USDA NOP: 205.237 LIVESTOCK FEED
NZFSA Technical Rules for Organic Production:
- Section 6, point 6.4.1-6.4.18
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, if applicable, organically handled: Except, that, nonsynthetic substances and synthetic substances allowed under point 6.2 of this Appendix may be used as feed additives and supplements.
The producer of an organic production must not:
- Use animal drugs, including hormones, to promote growth
- 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
- Feed plastic pellets for roughage
- Feed formulas containing urea or manure
- Feed mammalian or poultry slaughter by-products to mammals or poultry
- Use feed, feed additives, and feed supplements in violation of New Zealand legislation [ACVM Act, PAR system, professional conduct (NZVA)]
2.3 Livestock health care practice standard
Cross references:
USDA NOP: 205.238 Livestock health care practice standard
NZFSA Technical Rules for Organic Production:
- Section 6, point 6.5.4-6.5.10
(a) Only medicines listed by the United States that are permitted under NZ law may be used.
(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 point 2.4 in this Appendix. Parasiticides allowed under point 2.4 may be used on:
- Breeder stock, when used prior to the last third of gestation but not during lactation for progeny that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organically produced; and
- Dairy stock, when used a minimum of 90 days prior to the production of milk or milk products that are to be sold, labelled, or represented as organic.
(c) The producer of an organic livestock operation must not:
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 point 6.2 of this Appendix, or any substance that contains strychnine, a prohibited non-synthetic substance.
This Means:
(a) For livestock (excluding dairy animals for milk production):
If an organic animal is treated with antibiotics, the animal and its products following treatment must not be
sold, labelled, or represented as organic.
(b) For dairy animals for milk production:
A conventional dairy animal treated with antibiotics can be converted to organic y being under continuous organic
management for 1 year prior to milk and milk products from the animal being sold as organic.
Once a dairy animal is converted to organic, if it is treated with antibiotics (subsequent to gaining organic status) it
loses its organic status for ever (Rules: 205.236 (2) (iii), 205.238 (C)(1)
Administer any animal drug, other than vaccinations, in the absence of illness
Administer hormones for growth promotion
Administer synthetic parasiticides on a routine basis
Administer synthetic parasiticides to slaughter stock
Administer animal drugs in violation of NZ legislation [ACVM Act, PAR system, professional conduct (NZVA)
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, labelled, or represented as organically produced.
