Transitioning to Organic Sheep or Goat Meat Production

Animals sold for organic meat must be raised under organic management from the last third of gestation. For small ruminants such as goats and sheep with a five month gestation, this means the mother animal must be treated organically for a minimum of 50 days. Any dairy animals sent to organic slaughter must be born from mothers treated organically for at least the last 50 days of gestation.

• All animals raised for organic slaughter must be fed 100% organic feed during their entire lifetime. Any purchased feed must have a certificate of current certified organic status. Organic feed may not come from genetically modified crops.


• During transition or once organic, stored feed such as hay may only be fed if it is harvested from a certified organic field.


• Pasture is required (see below). Land will not be eligible for certification until 36 months have passed since the last application of non-approved materials.


• No prohibited health materials or feed supplements are to be fed or used in either the gestating mother during the last 50 days or during the organic meat animal's lifetime (no antibiotics, non-approved parasiticides, no minerals or vitamins with prohibited additives such as mineral oil or artificial flavorings).


• Organic breeding animals may not be brought in and out of organic production. Once an animal is certified for organic production, they should stay in production unless permanently removed.


• Rams or bucks need not be certified organic unless they will be sold as slaughter animals. Artificial insemination is allowed. Breeding hormones are not allowed.


• Anyone producing animals for organic slaughter must be certified by a third-party certification agency. Your operation will be inspected annually, and a fee that generally runs between $300 and $600 per year will be charged. There may be cost-share available to help with certification costs. Check with your state department of agriculture.


• Detailed recordkeeping is required, including records of individual animals.


• Organic animals must be slaughtered in a plant certified for organic slaughter.

Pasture is mandated for all organic ruminants. Pasture is defined as offering feed value to the animals. Animals in all stages of production (including young stock) must be out on pasture that offers feed value for a significant portion of the day, when seasonally appropriate. Green chop or dry hay fed to animals is not considered "pasture". Sheep or goats must be grazing the pasture themselves and a dry lot is not considered pasture, since there is no covering on the ground that offers feed value. Youngstock should be out on pasture once they have developed rumens and can digest grass. Browse in a paddock is acceptable for goats, as long as it offers significant feed value. Pasture must be certified organic. The transition to organic land is 36 months from last application of non-approved materials.

Plan to feed a high forage diet consisting of high quality feeds to promote the health of your animals. Preventative health support, breeding and a clean, low-stress living environment are an organic producer's best health tools. Vaccines are allowed.

Parasiticides are not allowed for use in organic slaughter animals. Parasites can be controlled through pasture management, allowed herbal remedies and breeding for resistance.

Pasture is mandated for all organic ruminants.

Any milk replacer must be from non-rBGH treated animals. As of spring 2007, non-rBGH milk replacer is not available in the U.S. Organic lambs or kids may be raised on certified organic milk from cows, goats or sheep.

Animals must be individually identified by ear tags, neck tags or distinguishing photos or drawings for animals that can be uniquely identified. Corresponding individual animal health records must be maintained for each individual animal. Health records must include all health events including birth records. Record keeping aids farmers in understanding what products and activities are useful and which are not, as well as tracking genetic traits to aid with culling decisions.

No antibiotics or hormones are allowed in organic production. However, an organic farmer cannot withhold medical treatment to preserve the organic status of an animal. If antibiotics must be used as a last resort remedy, the animal should be treated and sold or tracked and managed as nonorganic. This includes younstock that are born on the farm after your operation is certified organic. Once an animal that is part of your organic operation is given an antibiotic, this animal cannot ever be an organic dairy or slaughter animal. Animals that had been given antibiotics before you began managing them organically to produce their first organic lamb or kid can be converted to organic.

Housing must allow for freedom of movement and ventilation to promote animal health. This includes all stages of the animal's life. Any bedding that the animals eat or chew on must be certified organic. Treated wood where there is contact with livestock or with soil growing organic crops cannot be used on any new construction once the operation is certified organic. If the treated wood is present before the operation is fully organic, it can remain. Sheep or goats can be confined during winter months, but should have a few hours of outside exercise when weather permits. Youngstock can be confined when young to prevent illness.

Verify with your certification agency that the vitamins and minerals you are feeding meet the organic standards and do not contain any prohibited synthetic or non-organic substances (such as artificial preservatives, colorings, flavorings, anticaking agents or dust suppressants).

Verify with your certification agency that all health products used are acceptable. Dehorning, castration and tail docking in sheep should be performed to provide the least amount of stress to the animal.

You must ensure that pastures and manure application do not cause soil erosion or pollute ground or surface water. Plastic silage or hay wraps cannot be burned.

Before you begin your organic transition, find a market for your organic meat and decide on your organic certification agency. Begin working with the organic certification agency no later than six months before you have animals ready for slaughter.