Husbandry Management Practices

5.7.1 In principle, the reproduction of organically reared livestock should be based on natural methods. Nevertheless artificial insemination is permitted. Other forms of artificial or assisted reproduction (for example embryo transfers and cloning) are prohibited.

5.7.2 Mutilations are prohibited however operations such as attaching elastic bands to the tails of sheep, tail-docking, and dehorning are exceptions and must not be carried out systematically in organic farming. Some of these operations may, however, be authorised by AsureQuality for reasons of safety (for example dehorning in young animals) or if they are intended to improve the health, welfare or hygiene of the livestock. Such operations must be carried out at the most appropriate age by qualified personnel and any suffering to the animals must be reduced to a minimum. Cutting of teeth, trimming of beaks is not permitted under any circumstances.

5.7.3 Physical castration is allowed in order to maintain the quality of products and traditional production practices (meat-type pigs, bullocks, capons, etc) but only under the conditions set out in the last sentence of paragraph 5.7.2.

5.7.4 Keeping livestock tethered is forbidden. Nevertheless, by exception from this principle AsureQuality can authorise this practice for individual animals upon justification by the operator, that this is necessary for safety or welfare reasons, and that such tethering is only for a limited period of time.

5.7.5 Where livestock are reared in groups, the size of the group must depend upon their stage of development and the behavioural needs of the species concerned. The keeping of livestock in conditions, or on a diet, which may encourage anaemia is prohibited.

5.7.6 For poultry, the minimum age at slaughter shall be:

51 days for chickens
150 days for capons
49 days for Peking ducks
70 days for female Muscovy ducks
84 days for male Muscovy ducks
92 days for Mallard ducks

94 days for guinea fowl
140 days for turkeys and roasting geese.

Where producers do not apply these minimum slaughter ages, they must use slow-growing strains.