BREEDING

• The choice of breeds shall take into account their capacity to adapt to local conditions, vitality, and resistance to diseases.
• Animals shall be reared organically from birth. When organic stock are not available due to the early stage of development of organic livestock, the operator is allowed to bring in stock from conventional production. Breeding stock from conventional production may be brought in to a yearly maximum of 10% of adult animals of the same species on the farm.
• Organic livestock production shall use breeds that can reproduce under natural conditions.
• Artificial insemination is permitted.
• Embryo transfer and cloning is prohibited.
• Use of hormones to induce ovulation and birth is not permitted except when applied to individual animals for medical reasons and under veterinary supervision.

FEED

• Young stock of mammals shall be provided with maternal milk or organic milk from their own species
• In-conversion feed produced and given to livestock on the farm itself shall be calculated as part of organic diet, but cannot be sold as organic feed.

• FOR RUMINANTS, roughage shall constitute at least 60% of their daily diet on a dry matter basis.
• The operator may use milk from conventional production when organic milk is not available. Milk substitutes or others may be given only in case of emergency provided that they do not contain antibiotics, synthetic additives or slaughter products from the same species.
• The animals may be given vitamins, trace elements and supplements from natural sources. Synthetic vitamins, minerals and supplements may be used only when those from natural sources are not available in sufficient quantity and quality.
• Fodder and silage additives such as bacteria, fungi, and by-products of food industry (e.g. molasses) may be used. Synthetic chemical fodder preservatives such as acetic, formic and propionic acids; vitamins; and minerals are permitted in severe weather conditions.
• Feed, feed ingredients, additives and processing aids used in all animal feed shall not be derived from genetic engineering.

Prohibited animal substances in the feed:

• Slaughter products of the same species
• Farm animal by-products (e.g. abattoir waste) in feed for ruminants
• All types of excrements
• Feed materials produced by extraction with solvents (e.g. hexane) or by adding other chemical agents
• Amino-acid isolates
• Urea and other synthetic nitrogen compound
• Synthetic growth promoters or stimulants
• Synthetic appetite enhancer
• Preservatives except when used as a processing aid
• Artificial colorants

HEALTH AND MEDICAL CARE

• All synthetic chemical inputs including veterinary medicines and synthetic hormones are prohibited.
• Use of veterinary medicines is prohibited.
• Use of synthetic substances to stimulate production or suppress natural growth is prohibited.
• Vaccination may be used in areas where risks of disease outbreaks are present, provided that they not genetically engineered.