Since the 1990s, the U.S. has seen a resurgence of interest in growing and eating organic foods. More people have become interested not only in organic fruits and vegetables, but in organic dairy products and meat.
According to the Organic Trade Association, a North American trade organization for the organic industry, in 2010 about three-fourths of Baby Boomers polled indicated that they purchase organic or natural foods. Yet, despite an annual growth rate of about 20% a year, the land dedicated to organic products is still small compared to that for foods grown by “modern” methods. Partly because of the limited supply, but also because of growing concern over genetically modified crops, exposure to pesticides, out-of-control use of antibiotics and other chemicals in food animals, and the perception that organic is better for health, people are willing to pay a higher price for certified organic food.
Besides providing organic meat, fiber, milk and other dairy products to meet growing market demand, raising goats organically has another big benefit: it promotes sustainability. Organic manure produced by the goats can be used as fertilizer (and become another product to sell); less soil is lost to erosion with organic processes; less pollution (particularly to groundwater) is created and less fossil fuel is used because chemical fertilizers have been eliminated.
This article covers the requirements for raising goats that can be organically certified, some of the difficulties in meeting these requirements and some alternatives that may serve the same purposes.
So, just what is considered organic goat milk or meat? Organically certified goat milk or meat is from goats that were raised according to the standards of the National Organic Program and certified by an accredited state or private agency. (See sidebar)
Organic Milk and Meat Requirements
- Prooduced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations.From animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones
- Produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation
- Farm where produced is inspected and certified by a government agent to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards
- Companies that handle or process the meat or milk before it gets to the local supermarket or restaurant must be certified
Source: USDA Consumer Brochure: Organic Food Standards and Labels: The Facts
Organic is not the same as natural, which refers to products that are minimally processed with no artificial ingredients, coloring agents or chemicals. Organic is also not the same as pasture-raised or grass-fed, although this is a component in the organic requirements. Just this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) further restricted the definition of organic milk and meat to require that it come from livestock that graze on pasture for at a third of the year, which get 30% of their feed from grazing. Previously they only had to have “access to pasture.”
Switching to raising your goats organically may not be easy. There are a variety of requirements that some may find hard to meet, depending on their farm and the local conditions.
In addition to the federal organic standards, some states may have more restrictive requirements. Farmers need to check with their state Agriculture Departments to find out what, if any, requirements the state will impose before getting too far into development of a plan to go organic with their goats.
Living Conditions.
The requirement that goats be on pasture at least one-third of each year entails more than just putting them in just any outdoor or indoor area for the required amount of time. The standard also requires that they have shade, shelter, exercise space, fresh air and direct sunlight.
Shelter must be provided in a way that promotes the healthy and natural behaviors and maintenance of the goats. This includes ensuring that they are safe (hazards are minimized to prevent injury), have an opportunity to exercise, are protected from severe temperatures, have adequate ventilation and have appropriate bedding (clean and dry).
A few exceptions allow temporary total confinement at times, including bad weather, health and safety issues and risk to soil or water quality, but they cannot be totally confined for all or even a majority of their lives.
Pasture fencing is also covered by the Organic Standard. Using treated wood is prohibited in organic production, where it may come into contact with soil crops or the livestock. While most older fencing may be grandfathered in, farmers who are starting with a new farm need to be aware of this prohibition and avoid using treated wood in fence construction.
Pasture.
In order to be certified organic, goats must be raised on pasture that is certified organic. This requires the use of no pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilizers or any other restricted materials. Unless the pasture land is already certified, obtaining initial certification will take time. In order to receive initial certification for pasture land, a farmer must be able to show that no prohibited substance has been applied for 36 months prior to full certification. Farmers with recently purchased property may have a harder time getting certified unless the prior owner is willing to assist with proving that no prohibited substances were applied.
Also important is the need to avoid overstocking of goats—which will lead to overgrazed pasture land. Overgrazed pasture, or pasture otherwise lacking vegetation, is not considered pasture under the certification standards anymore than a feedlot is.
If a pasture abuts a roadway, where a county or other municipality may spray the roadside for weeds, put up signs indicating that the property is an organic farm and spraying is prohibited. Contact the municipality as well to make sure that you supply them with any required documentation.
In organic management of goats, pasture rotation may be even more important, because use of most chemical dewormers is prohibited. Pasture rotation discourages parasite overpopulation, especially in warm, wet regions, as well as discouraging overgrazing and allowing time for rest and growth of vegetation.
ATTRA- National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service has a helpful publication for educating farmers regarding organic pastures, Pasture: Going Organic. It can be obtained free of charge at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/pastures_organic.pdf. This publication discusses all issues relevant to organic pasture for goats and other livestock to be certified organic, including fence construction.
Feed and Supplements. Organic livestock must be fed only hay, grain, milk replacer, minerals and any other supplement such as kelp or beet pulp that is certified organic. This means that it may not be genetically modified and may not contain synthetic hormones, antibiotics, coccidiostats or other restricted materials (see sidebar). Goats may not be given any of those additives directly, either. The bedding used for goats must also be certified organic, whether it is straw, wood chips or wood pellets, because goats may eat the bedding.
Restricted materials for organic livestock:
An exception to the 100% organic requirement is for a dairy goat herd that is being converted to organic management. Those goats may be fed up to 20% conventional feeds for the first nine months of the transition, but then must receive 100% organic feeds after that time.
One major impact for farmers who are used to bottle-feeding their dairy (or other) kids with milk replacer is the requirement that milk replacer be used only on an emergency basis. This is for two reasons: 1. Dam-raising is more natural and sustainable, and 2. no organic milk replacer currently exists for goat kids, although in the UK one was introduced in 2008 for calves.
The area of the country, as well as the amount of land a goat farmer has available, can be an impediment to completely meeting the feed requirements. Farmers with a small acreage, and in the desert, for instance, will be unable to grow their own hay, alfalfa and grain and will need to rely on what is available commercially. In some areas, finding organic feeds is next to impossible. In many cases, despite availability, the cost is prohibitive. Each farmer needs to determine what these costs will be, along with the market rate for organic meat, milk or fiber, to determine whether raising organic goats is economically feasible.
Feed mills are often willing to work with a nutritionist and create a custom feed mix using organic products, if they are available. Ideally, the feed mill will be local so that shipping costs can be limited. One way to provide custom organic goat feed for less cost is to find a group of people who are interested in purchasing as a cooperative and having large quantities made at one time. It may take some coordination and time to get the bugs worked out of a distribution system, but once a group of local, like-minded farmers have signed on and prepaid, you are ready to go.
Health Care.
Health care is one of the most challenging aspects of going organic with goats. A goat cannot be certified organic if it has been treated with antibiotics, or a synthetic or nonsynthetic substance that is prohibited by the law. Yet, goats do get sick with disease that requires the use of such substances. In fact, producers must treat sick animals, even if doing so will cause them to lose their status as “organic.” So the challenge is, whenever possible, to find treatment methods that are organic and that work.
The Livestock Healthcare Standard requires that producers use preventive health care practices (vaccination is allowed), not treat goats that are not sick (e.g., giving antibiotics or dewormers routinely), and make sure their living conditions and feed ration promote good health. Producers who do their homework will find that some breeds (or cross-breeds) of goat are more resistant to parasites and other diseases and consider obtaining these goats for breeding stock. For example, Spanish goats, which have been feral in the southern US for many years, are more resistant to parasites and require less hoof-trimming than some other breeds. Although not dairy goats, they have the advantage of being good meat goats, as well as providing cashmere for fiber.
One of the most difficult health care problems encountered when raising goats organically is controlling parasites. Ivermectin is the only chemical dewormer is that is allowed for use on organic goats. However, it may only be used if the goat is determined to have a parasite overload based on fecal egg counts. It also may not be administered in breeding stock during the last third of gestation or when they are nursing kids that are to be sold, labeled or represented as organically produced. When used in dairy stock, the dewormer may not be given to goats for at least 90 days before milk production or the production of organic milk products.
Besides prohibitions on the times dewormers may be administered, another problem exists: In some areas, parasites have become resistant to Ivermectin, so even when goats are treated they may still have problems. Some producers use herbal dewormers, but these have not been shown in controlled studies to be effective. Fortunately, alternatives to chemical dewormers is an area in which a lot of research is now occurring, so perhaps in the future this will be less of a problem in keeping goats organically certified.
The health standard also requires that physical alterations—such as tattooing or other identification, disbudding and castration—be done only in a way that promotes the welfare of the goat and minimizes pain and stress. Although there are no hard and fast rules, these are areas that must be addressed in an Organic System Plan and farmers need to be able to show that the way they perform these procedures meets the criteria.
Organic goat farmers need to educate themselves and make sure that their veterinarian is aware of organic standards in regard to medications that are often recommended or prescribed for goats. Consider giving them a copy of the regulations or the Livestock Workbook if they are not already familiar with the program. That way you can work together to determine how best to treat your goats when they do get sick and not mistakenly give a prohibited drug.
The Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine has produced an excellent reference on the use and effectiveness of medicinal plants for goats and other ruminants. This document can be found at www.ethnobiomed.com/content/3/1/11.
Other Considerations.
The National Organic Standard contains other requirements that farmers need to take into consideration. Manure management may or may not be a problem, depending on the acreage and number of goats being kept. One major intent of this provision is to keep manure out of waterways—a problem for larger farms and less so for small farms.
Recordkeeping is critical to raising goats organically and a recordkeeping system must be set up prior to applying for organic certification. Required records include “all records of the operation,” and they must be understandable and available for inspection. Some of these records include identification for each goat including whether it was born on the farm or purchased, all veterinary and other health records for each goat, and feed information, which includes keeping all feed tags from feed that is purchased.
The standard also addresses requirement for processing of goat products. For example, organic meat may not come in contact with non-organic meat and no synthetic materials may be used during its processing. Farmers need to review the standard to determine whether other requirements for food processing will affect their operation and whether they can be met.
Certification Process
Obtaining an initial certification requires the following steps:
Find a certifier in your state. (A list can be found at the USDA Agricultural Marketing Site, www.ams.usda.gov.Complete an application form. (Note: Some federal funds are available through states to reimburse applicants for obtaining organic certification)Describe, in writing, practices and procedures to be used.Make a list of each substance you will use in production, noting its composition, source, and where/how it will be used.Describe how the plan will be implemented and monitored.Describe the recordkeeping system(s) that will be used comply with requirements.Describe of practices and procedures to be used to ensure that organic and nonorganic products are not mixed.Schedule an on-site inspection by a certifier.
Initial certification is granted in perpetuity, but farmers must pay a certification fee and update their initial Organic System Plan every year—it isn’t a one-time deal. Small farmers who market less than $5000 of organic products annually are not required to apply for organic certification, although they must still comply with production and handling requirements. While the milk or meat may be marked “organic,” farmers who rely on this exemption may not use the organic seal on their products.
Conclusion
Farmers who think they may want to get into organic goat production should first learn everything they can about organic certification under the federal and their state laws. A good resource is the National Center for Appropriate Technology’s (NCAT) Livestock Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices at http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/livestockworkbook.pdf. This book not only includes much information on organic livestock practices, but contains a checklist that farmers can use to prepare to switch to organic systems. It can be used to determine what steps to take to begin working toward certified organic production.
The first step in making the switch is to begin transitioning pasture and cropland. Remember that it can take as much as 36 months for this step, if the land is not already certified organic. While implementing this step, farmers have time to think through and create the required Organic System Plan, talk with a certifier and start thinking through policies and procedures to be implement, as well as developing a good system for recordkeeping.
Farmers who don’t have the acreage or right locale to grow feed, need to start looking for feeds that are grown organically or use organic ingredients. Although this may be an insurmountable barrier for some, there is the option of using as many certified organic ingredients as possible, and then finding “no spray” ingredients to make up the rest of the feed. Although this will prevent organic certification, it will still be a good marketing point for sales and possibly a higher price for meat and milk and can be a positive first step for potential future certified organic production.
