Questions on organic livestock standards

Greg & Lei Gunthorp (hey4hogs@kuntrynet.com)
Sun, 4 Jul 1999 16:59:56 -0500

Steven Sprinkles latest article from ACRES that he posted on the Sanet
got me thinking about current standards for organic livestock production.
Can anyone answer the following questions or point me towards a list serve
that would be more appropriate? Thanks in advance.

Is it true that a day old chicks do not have to be hatched from organic
eggs, yet all other livestock has to come from organic parents?

No parasite pharmaceutical control programs can be used even if the active
ingredient is derived from bacteria? I think there are two commercial
parasite controls that are derived from bacteria. I've said before and I
will say again that they may just be encouraging concrete production of
animals as the only means to get around parasite control. I know that
rotations are the best answer but how many have the required acres to make
that work and still raise enough to support a family? I've figured out
how to not use parasite control in my market hogs (with some variability in
the pigs) but can't seem to get it to work in my sow herd that glean the
same crop areas each fall.

And how about treated fence post or treated wood in the construction of
fences or buildings? Is that allowable or does it have to follow the three
year rule?

Just to let everyone know, I strongly believe the same way as Gene Logsdon
on organic production. The standards should be so strong that none of the
big companies ever want to join in organic production. The last proposed
standards didn't do that. I think they need a statement requiring they
meet the Animal Welfare Institute standards or some kind of animal welfare
requirement ensuring no confinement production with an organic label.

Any thoughts?
Greg Gunthorp

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