Irish organic livestock standards cover all aspects of the upbringing and keeping of animals on the farm under environmental and welfare considerations. They make sure that in these days of animal mass-production every animal on an organic farm receives the amount of individual attention it needs. We call this “real husbandry”.

When the off-spring is turned out in spring, fields with a wide variety of grass, clovers and herbs are waiting for them. This wide plant selection, much needed for the well-being of the animals, is only possible because organic farmers do not use artificial fertilizers and weed killers. Letting pastures and meadows grow naturally produces a different feed for organic livestock, something which is well noticed later at the table.

Apart from feed the organic standards cover housing and medication too. Animal welfare is very high on the agenda. Resting space, feeding space – everything is defined, even the paints which can be used in the shed

Once an animal is not well, soft solutions are the first option: homoeopathy, herbal remedies, and traditional methods of our grandfathers. Should a conventional medicine become necessary, double the waiting time before comsumption is applied. However, most animals on organic farms live a happy, healthy life.

Organic standards don’t stop here: to give you peace of mind they too cover animal transport, the abattoir, butchery and the transport of the finished goods.

(If you have detailed questions regarding the Organic Trust standards please use the link provided)

www.organic-trust.org

Good Herdsmen Ltd
Clogheen Road
Cahir
Co. Tipperary
Irelan d

Phone: 00353 - 52 - 7445500

Fax: 00353 - 52 - 7445486

e-mail: goodherdsmen@eircom.net

Every stage which alters the product has to be part of the inspection procedures (growing, cutting, processing, and packing). The organic food sector is the highest regulated food sector worldwide. The European standards for organic food labelling are set out in a detailed Dept. of Agriculture document of some 100 pages.

Good Herdsmen is inspected and certified as an organic producer by the Organic Trust who is licensed for this by the Dept. of Agriculture. The following are the main issues, addressed by these organic standards:

Grazing/Feed
Organic cattle and sheep management is based on grazing in summer and on hay and silage in winter. Organic concentrates are also permitted during winter feeding. In-conversion grain and pulses can be used up to a certain percentage but no non-organic ingredients of agricultural origin. GM feed is strictly prohibited on organic farms.

Considering that 80% of GM crops go into feed it is today next to impossible for a conventional farmer to get GM free feed. The organic sector is the only food sector who can guarantee that its animals are reared GM free. This is especially important as a quality argument while Ireland undertakes steps to become a GM free island.

As no synthetic fertilizers are being used on organic farms the meadows have a higher herb content which benefits the health of the animals (grazing animals use herbs in the sward to maintain their health), but also the taste of the meat.

Medication
Conventional farming has health schedules which include the blanket treatment of complete herds (incl. that of healthy animals) in regular intervals. This is not permitted on organic farms. The overuse of antibiotics has led to increased immunity in humans and antibiotic treatments often don’t work anymore. Only individual animals can be treated and the waiting time is at least twice of that recommended.

The standards detail which medication is permitted and which not. One must remember that some of today’s animal medicines are so potent that they have withdrawal periods of 45 days or even longer. This is a potential health risk from conventional meat as farmers sometimes ignore these withdrawal periods when prices are good.

Housing
Animals must be straw bedded on organic farms. The standards specify the minimum area per animals required for over wintering, which is substantially larger than on conventional farms. The standards even cover the paint that should be used on the building.

Transport/Abattoir
The standards refer to transport issues as well, safeguarding animal welfare, and regulate organic procedures at the abattoir (lower waiting times, segregation etc).