Organic Farming - Organic Farming and Livestock
What is Organic Farming? | Organic
Farming Overview | Organic
Farming Methods | Organic
Farming Fertilization
Organic Farming Pest Control | Organic
Farming and Crop Planning | Organic
Farming and Livestock | Organic
Farming Systems
Organic Farming and Livestock
Raising livestock and poultry, for meat, dairy and eggs, is the other traditional, complementary farming activity to growing. Here, the same concept of inclusion versus exclusion holds true. Organic farms attempt to provide animals with "natural" living conditions and feed. Ample, free-ranging outdoor access, for grazing and exercise, is a distinctive feature, and crowding is avoided. Feed is also organically grown, and drugs, including antibiotics, are not ordinarily used (and are prohibited under organic regulatory regimes). Animal health and food quality are thus pursued by a "fresh air, exercise, and good food" approach. In conventional livestock operations, animal needs are identified, isolated, and handled discretely. Drugs and synthetic food supplements are usually central. Animals are often given preventive treatment of antibiotics in their daily feed, and supplements are added to increase the nutritional value of a variety of substances used as feed. Hormones may be used to optimize certain characteristics (e.g. produce more meat, or more milk). Living conditions are often set as the minimum necessary to survival and growth.
Also, horses and cattle used to be a basic farm feature that provided labor, for hauling and plowing, fertility, through recycling of manure, and fuel, in the form of food for farmers and other animals. While today, small growing operations often do not include livestock, domesticated animals are a desirable part of the organic farming equation, especially for true sustainability, the ability of a farm to function as a self-renewing unit.
From Wikipedia.