transitioning to organic sheep and goat production

S. Schoenian 2/11/12

Transitioning to organic sheep and goat

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Transitioning to organic production of sheep and goats

SUSAN SCHOENIANSheep & Goat Specialist

Western Maryland Research & Education Center

[email protected] - www.sheepandgoat.com

What is organic?

• Organic refers to the way agricultural products—food and fiber—are grown and processed.

• "Certified Organic" means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations.



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Organic certification

• In order to sell agricultural products in the United States as organic, they must be grown, handled, processed, and labeled in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (NOP) standards.

• If you produce more than $5,000 worth of organic products each year,your operation must be certified by a USDA-accredited organic certifying agent.

• There are two cost-sharing programs for organic certification.

Organic livestock standards

• Has been harder to define organic standards for livestock.

▫ Differences in species.

▫ Disagreements about animal health and welfare.

▫ More issues (?).

▫ Open to interpretation.

▫ Fear of commercialization.



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Organic sheep and goats

• Not many sheep and goats in the U.S. are certified organic. Why?

? Standards are written more for mainstream animal agriculture than sheep and goats.

? Conventional sheep and goat production has a better public image than poultry, dairy, beef, and pork production

? There is less of a demand for certified organic sheep and goat products.

1. Low demand for all products

2. Demand is mostly ethnic

Certified organic livestock, 2008

Other animals 6,860

Sheep 7,445

Beef cows 63,680

Other cattle 144,817

Dairy cows 249,766

Hogs and pigs 10,111

Poultry 15,518,075

Organic sheep and goats

� It is harder to raise sheep and goats organically than other animals.

Example: controlling internal parasites (worms)

� Fiber production is not addressed in much detail in NOP standards.

• No standards for fiber processing.

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1,000

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6,000

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1993

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2008

Organic sheep and lambs



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Why go organic?

Non-economicEconomic

• Because organic standards match your philosophy of agricultural production.

• Organic is one of the fastest growing sectors of the food and agricultural industry.

• Retail consumer sales have been growing 20% per year.

• Consumers are willing to pay premium prices for certified organic products.

Is organic going to be profitable?

Higher market prices

Organic farms were (on average) more profitable than the average of all farms in the U.S. (in 2008), according to results of the first-ever federal census of organic agriculture.

Higher costsand/or lower production

Do a business plan.



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Before going organic

• Decide which part of your sheep and/or goat enterprise is going to be organic: meat, milk, and/or fiber.

• Identify a source of organic feed, supplements, and bedding.

• Find a veterinarian who will treat organic livestock.

• Identify a processing plant that is certified for organic slaughter.

• Identify potential market(s) for your organic meat, milk, or fiber.

USDA Organic Standards for livestock

1. Origin of livestock

2. Pasture and living conditions

3. Feeding

4. Health care

5. Management

6. Transport and slaughter



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Origins of livestock

REQUIRED

• Sheep and goats sold for organic meat must be raised under organic management from the last third of gestation through slaughter.

• Fiber-producing animals must be fed and managed organically from the last third of gestation.

• In order to sell organic milk, all production animals must be fed and managed organically for the previous 12 months.

Origins of livestock

ALLOWED

PROHIBITED

• Rams and bucks do not need to be certified organic unless they will be sold as slaughter animals or used for fiber production.

• The offspring from females that are used to produce organic milk (or fiber) do not need to be raised organically.

• Organic breeding animals cannot be brought in and out of organic production.



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Pasture and living conditions

ALLOWED

PROHIBITED• Temporary confinement

• Feeding areas (yards, pads, and lots) during non-grazing season.

• Continuous, total confinement

REQUIRED

• Access to outdoors

• Assess to pasture

• Minimum of 30 percent of DMI from grazing for at least 120 days in a calendar year.

• Access to shade or shelter

Pasture management

ALLOWED

PROHIBITED

• Lime (naturally-mined)

• Organic fertilizers, including animal manures (with certain restrictions).

• Organic pesticides

• Synthetic fertilizers

• Synthetic pesticides

• Sewage sludge (biosolids)

• Residues of prohibited substances exceeding 5% of EPA tolerance.

REQUIRED

• 36-month transition period

• Organic seeds or plants

• Crop rotation

• Plant biodiversity

• Buffer zones



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Housing

ALLOWED

PROHIBITED

• Temporary confinement

• Non-organic bedding

• Overcrowding

REQUIRED

• Express natural behavior

• Minimum space

• Ventilation, fresh air

• Lighting

• Bedding

• Adequate

• Organic • Edible or chewable

• Non-edible or chewable

Feeding

REQUIRED

PROHIBITED

• 100 percent organic[certificate of organic status]

• Organic milk replacer

• Non-organic feed or feed additives.

• Non-organic vitamin and mineral supplements

• Animal by-products

• Urea or NPN

• GMOs

ALLOWED

• Natural minerals

• Natural vitamins

• DFM - probiotics



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Health care

REQUIRED

• Preventative health care practices:

▫ Selection of appropriate species and breed of livestock

▫ Meet nutritional requirements

▫ Appropriate housing, pasture conditions, and sanitation practices.

▫ Freedom of movement, exercise

Health care

ALLOWED

• Natural therapies

• Homeopathic remedies

• Approved vaccines

• Sample of other approved materials

1) Disinfectants

2) Electrolytes

3) Glucose

4) Dextrose

5) Iodine

6) Baking soda

7) Oxytocin (muscle relaxant)

8) Poloxalene (anti-bloat)

9) Aspirin (anti-inflammatory)



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Health carePROHIBITED

• Therapeutic antibiotics[Penicillin, LA-200, terramycin]

• Sub-therapeutic antibiotics[coccidiostats, oxytetraclines]

• Hormones (except oxytocin)• Anthelmintics (dewormers)

[Exception: Ivermectin may be administered to breeding stock, except during their last third of pregnancy.]

• Many conventional treatments[e.g. propylene glycol]

• Withholding medical treatment to preserve the organic status of an animal is prohibited.

� However, if an animal is treated with a prohibited material, it cannot be sold as organic.

Management

ALLOWED PROHIBITED

• Physical alternation[judicious and humane]

• Artificial insemination Timed Laparoscopic [?]

• Livestock guardians

• Herding dogs [?]

• Growth promotants (Ralgro®)

• Hormonal manipulation of reproduction (e.g. CIDRs).

• Embryo transfer

REQUIRED

• Individual animal identification

• Detailed record keeping



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Transport and slaughter

ALLOWED

PROHIBITED

• Sell live animal as organic

• Religious slaughter

• Non-organic slaughter

REQUIRED

• Low-stress transport [?]

• Organic slaughter[certified slaughterhouse]

Timeline for transitioning to organic

36 monthsProhibited materials

last applied

Certifiedorganic pasture

Organic slaughter

Organic fiberConception Birth

First 2/3 gestation

Last 1/3 gestation

LAND

ANIMALS

Adapted from ATTRA: Pastures: going organic

12 months Organic dairy



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Selection of breeding stock for organic production

1. Land resource• Improved pasture

• Woodland, browse

• Predator risk

• Fencing

2. Intended markets• Meat

• Milk

• Fiber

• Other

3. Adaptability • Climate

• Diseases

• Production system

Type of grazing land

SHEEP GOATS

• Type of ruminant: roughage eater

• Feeding behavior:intermediate

• Diet selection:Forbs � grass

• Type of ruminant:intermediate

• Feeding behavior: browser

• Diet selection:Browse � grass

Both species are susceptible to predation and require excellent fencing.



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Intended markets

• Sheep and goat breeds tend to excel in the production of eithermeat, milk, or fiber, seldom more than one.

• There are no “best” breeds. Each breed has characteristics which make it suitable or unsuitable for a particular use or production system.

• Crossbreeding balances the traits of different breeds and results in “hybrid vigor.” It is the recommended breeding practice.

Adaptability - climate

• Breeds that evolved or were developed in similar climates will be best-adapted to Virginia and similar places.

Sheep

� Medium wool sheep

� Hair sheep

Goats

� Indigenous goats

� Kiko

� Dairy

In general, goats are less-adapted to warm, moist climates than sheep.



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Adaptability - disease resistance

• Hoof problems▫ There are differences

between and within breeds with regards to hoof growth and health.

• Internal parasites▫ There are between species,

between breed, and within breed differences with regards to resistance to internal parasites.

• Scrapie▫ Individual differences:

genotype determines susceptibility of animal.

Breeds more resistant to parasites

SHEEP

GOATS [ ? less data]

• Hair sheep (tropical origin)

St. Croix

Barbados Blackbelly

Katahdin

• Gulf Coast or Florida Native

• Kiko

• Indigenous goats

▫ Myotonic

▫ Spanish or brush



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Adaptability – production system

Intensive or semi-intensive

Low intensity (mostly forage)

• Large-to-medium frame size

• Higher reproductive rate

• Higher milk production

• Higher growth potential

• Small-to-medium frame size

• Low to moderate reproductive rate.

• Low to moderate milk production

• Good mothering ability

• Good foraging ability

• Low to moderate growth rate

• Parasite resistance

What about rare, heritage, and primitive breeds?

May be particularly well-suited to forage-based organic production systems.

St. Croix Myotonic



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Forage-based livestock production

• Conventional sheep and goat farming is already largely forage-based, especially in Virginia.

• Concentrates and other supplements are fed to meet the nutritional deficiencies of forage diets.▫ Late gestation▫ Lactation▫ Growth

• Supplemental feeding is also used to increase productivity ($)▫ Milk production▫ Growth rates

The biggest difference is how lambs and kids are fed for market

GRAIN (+ FORAGE) GRAZING

• Earlier weaning

• Faster growth rates

• Shorter time to market

• Heavier carcasses

• Reduced parasitism

• Reduced predator risk

• Fatter carcasses

• Better “quality” meat

• Less omega-3 fatty acids [?]

• Later weaning

• Slower growth rates

• Longer time to market

• Lighter carcasses

• Increased parasitism

• Increased predator risk

• Less expensive [?]

• Leaner carcasses

• More omega-3 fatty acids [?]



production 17

Choosing the right genetics for pasture finishing

• Pasture will more easily meet the nutritional needs of early-maturing lambs vs. late maturing.

• Pasture will more easily meet the nutritional needs of meat-type and indigenous goat breeds than dairy kids.

• In addition, some breeds are better-adapted to pasture-rearing.

The biggest challenge in organic management of sheep and goats will be dealing with internal parasites.



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Sheep and goats can be potentially infected by many internal parasites.

HELMINTHS

Haemonchus contortus

BARBER POLE WORM

• Nematodes - roundworms

▫ Strongyle-type

� Haemonchus contortus

� Trichostrongylus

� Teladorsagia

▫ Lung

▫ Meningeal

• Cestodes - tapeworms

• Trematodes - flukes

ABOMASUM

Causes of parasite problems

LESS PROBLEMS MORE PROBLEMS

• Sheep

• Resistant breeds

• Resistant animals

• Mature animals

• Dry animals

• Zero grazing

• Supplementation

• Low stocking rates

• Winter, early spring, late fall

• Goats

• Susceptible breeds

• Susceptible animals

• Young animals

• Lactating females

• High producers

• Pastured animals

• High stocking rates

• Summer



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Traditional control of parasites has relied heavily on anti-parasitic drugs.

ANTHELMINTICS DEWORMERS

Integrated parasite management (IPM)

SELECTIVE DEWORMINGwith FAMACHA© • Pasture management

• Grazing management

• Nutritional supplementation

• Zero grazing

• Management

• Genetic selection

• Doing fecal egg counts

• Effective anthelmintic use

• Strategic deworming

• Testing for drug resistance



production 20

Controlling parasites with pasture and grazing management

• Low stocking rates

• Rotational grazing with sufficient rest periods

• Leader-follower system

• Mixed or multi-species grazing

• Clean pastures

• Minimum grazing heights

• Taller forages

• Forage legumes

• Tanniferous forages

• Bioactive forages

• Browsing

What about natural “anthelmintics?”

• An anthelmintic acts to expel or destroy parasitic worms.

• Using this definition, there aren’t any consistantlyeffective “natural” anthelmintics.

• An animal that is clinically parasitized should be treated with a “chemical” dewormer.

Withholding medical treatment to preserve the organic status of an animal is prohibited.

Bottle jaw



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What about natural “anthelmintics?”

• They may not treat a clinically-parasitized animal, but they may reduce the number of animals that require treatment.

▫ Disruption of parasite life cycle (on pasture)

� Eat larvae or eggs

� Inhibit larvae development

� Inhibit egg hatching

▫ Strengthening of the immune system.

An increasing number of scientific studies are being conducted to identify compounds which may have anthelmintic-like properties. Current claims are largely antidotal.

Anthelmintic-like properties

• Herbal dewormers[oils and seeds]▫ Artemisia genus (Wormword)

▫ Garlic Papaya

▫ Paprika Ginger

▫ Pumpkin Mustard

• Condensed tannins� Sericea lespedeza

• Nematode-trapping fungus• Copper oxide wire particles [?]

• Copper sulfate• Tobacco (nicotine sulfate)

Sericea lespedeza



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Copper oxide wire particles (COWP)Currently not approved for worm control in organic production

• Repackage copper supplement for cattle into smaller doses to treat lambs and kids for adult infections with the barber pole worm.

� As little as 0.5 g

� Up to 5 g (for adults)

Though researchers haven’t experienced any issues with copper toxicity in sheep, the risk should always be considered.

Sericea lespedeza

• Warm season legume that contains condensed tannins.

▫ Reduces pasture contamination by reducing fecal egg count and development of larvae into infective stage (L3).

▫ Animals consuming sericea lespedeza have higher packed cell volumes and fewer abomasal worms.

• Efficacy not affected by form:1) Grazed forage

2) Harvested hay

3) Leaf-meal pellet



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What about coccidia?Another common and potentially deadly internal parasite

• Single-cell protozoa▫ Host-specific

▫ Sheep and goats affected by Eimeria spp.

• Damages lining of small intestines.

• Common symptoms: scours (diarrhea) and ill-thrift.

• Adults animals are mostly immune, but serve as reservoir for infection.

Prevention of clinical coccidiosis

CONVENTIONAL ORGANIC

• Coccidiostats in mineral, feed, and/or water.

� Bovatec®

� Rumensin®

� Deccox®

� Corid• Treat with Corid or sulfa

antibiotics.

� organic methods

• Adequate colostrum intake

• Good sanitation/management

▫ Dry bedding

▫ Clean, well-designed feeders

▫ Overcrowding/stocking

▫ Pasture congregation

• Natural therapy: garlic (?)



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Marketing organic food

1. Direct to the consumer� Farmer’s markets� CSAs � On-farm store� Mail order/internet� Whole carcasses

2. Retail� Grocery store chains� Co-ops� Regional grocery stores

3. Food service� Upscale restaurants� Restaurant chains

Marketing direct to consumers

• Tell consumers what’s different about your product that they can’t get in the local grocery store.▫ To make specific

nutritional claims, get samples tested at a lab.

• Tell your “story” to consumers.

• Provide cooking instructions.



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Thank you for your attention.

transitioning to organic sheep and goat production

Education

organic meat

organic slaughter

organic fertilizers

organic certification

organic farms

organic management

organic livestock standards

usda organic standards