Learning Experiences

Learning Outcome 5
Types of organic-based health care products/ materials
Learning Activities Special Instructions
The trainee will read information sheetPlease read all the information sheets.
1.1-5 on Types of organic-based health After reading all the information sheets,
care products/ materials you are required to accomplish all the
self-checks and compare results with
The trainee will accomplish self-check the answers key.
1.1-5 View all the video clip and powerful
presentations. After viewing, call the
The trainee will refer result with the
attention of your trainer to undergo oral
answer key 1.1-5
questioning.
The trainee will participate in the
All responses will be in accordance
discussion on the Types of organic-
with the suggested/model answers.
based health care products/ materials
If you rated satisfactory, you can move
The trainee will Refer responses to
to another module as advice by your
model answers
trainer.
View power point slides/video clips on
the Types of organic-based health care
products/ materials
Answer written/oral questions

Refer responses to model answers

Date Developed: Document No. NTTA-TM1-07

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Organic
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Production NCII
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 Information Sheet 1.1-5

Organic-based health care products/ materials

Learning Objectives:
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Identify various types of organic health care products/materials used in animal
husbandry.
2. Understand the regulations and standards governing the production and use
of organic health care products.

Animal Husbandry in Organic Agriculture

Integrating animals into a farm help

creating a closed or semi-closed system
where energy

and nutrients are recycled. Animals can

convert non-edible biomass (e.g. grass,
straw,

kitchen waste) into food while

increasing soil fertility with their manure.

Many farm animals have a multi-

functional role, for example, animals:

• produce dung, which is of great importance for soil fertility;

• yield products such as milk or eggs for sale or own consumption continuously;

• recycle by-products such as straw or kitchen waste;

• serve as draught animals for tillage or transport;

• produce meat, hides, feathers, horns, etc.;

• serve as an investment or a bank;

• help in pest control (e.g. dugs);

• help in weed management (e.g. grazing on barren fields);

• have cultural or religious significance (prestige, ceremonies, etc.); and

• produce young stock for breeding or sale.

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1. Deciding on animal husbandry

There are several reasons for taking up animal husbandry as a part of your
farming activities or even as the main one.

1.1 Is my farm suitable?

Do I have sufficient space for shedding and grazing, fodder or by-products to

feed, enough know-how on keeping, feeding, and treating specific kind of
animals?

1.2 Will the animals benefit my farm?

Can I use the dung in a suitable way? Will I get products for my consumption
or sales? Will the animals somehow affect my crops?

1.3 Can I get the necessary inputs?

Is sufficient labour available within or outside my farm? Is enough fodder and

water of good quality available throughout the year? Will remedies and
veterinary support be available, if needed? Can I get suitable breeds of
animals?

1.4 Will I find a market for the products?

Does anyone want to buy my milk, eggs, meat etc.? Is the price worth the
effort? Am I able to compete with other farmers?

1.5 What do animals need?

Organic farmers try to achieve healthy farm animals which can produce
satisfyingly over a long period. To achieve this goal, various needs of farm
animals have to be considered:

• fodder in adequate quality and quantity;

• for non-ruminants: diversity in fodder is usually required;

• sufficient access to clean drinking water;

• clean sheds of sufficient size and with adequate light and fresh air;

• sufficient freedom to move around and perform their natural

behaviour;

• healthy conditions and veterinary followup, when needed;

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 • sufficient contact with other animals, but no stress due to
overcrowding; and

• for herd animals:

an appropriate age and sex distribution within the herd. Organic

animal husbandry means not only feeding organic food and avoiding
synthetic food additives and synthetic medicines (e.g. antibiotics,
growth hormones) but also focusing on satisfying the various needs of
the farm animals. Good health and welfare of the animals are among
the main objectives.

1.6 How many animals to keep?

To identify the appropriate number for a specific kind of animal on a farm, the
following points should be considered:

• availability of fodder on the farm, especially in periods of scarcity (e.g.

dry season);

• carrying capacity of pastures; • size of existing or planned sheds;

• the maximum amount of manure the fields can bear; and

• availability of labour for looking after the animals.

In tropical countries, farm animals are frequently found to be underfed. When

defining the number of farm animals, keep in mind that the economic benefit
will be higher when fewer animals are kept, but fed well. Not only the amount
but also the quality of the available food must be taken into consideration.

2. Animal housing

The type of shed should be specific to the type of animals to be sheltered.

Poultry, for instance, should be housed in sheds that do not get too hot. Contact
of the animals with their faeces should be avoided as much as possible.

2.1 Planning sheds Except for nomadic lifestyles, most farm animals are temporarily
kept in sheds. The combination of animal husbandry and farm activities requires
control of their movements to avoid damage to crops. For the welfare and health of
the animals, sheds must be cool and aerated and protected from rain. They should
be constructed in a way ensuring:

• sufficient space to lie down, stand up, move and express natural behaviour (e.g.
licking, scratching, etc.);

• sufficient light (as a rule, one should be able to read a newspaper in the shed);

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• protection from sunlight, rain, and extreme temperatures;

• sufficient aeration, but no draught; • appropriate beddings (see section below);

• elements to exercise natural behaviour (e.g. for poultry: perching rails, sand baths
and secluded laying nests); and

• sheltered pits or heaps to collect and store manure. For economic reasons, sheds
can be built with simple, locally available materials. Many countries have a rich
tradition of shed constructions and have developed the most efficient and
appropriate shed systems for the conditions of the region. If techniques of this
heritage are combined with the above principles, a locally adapted and at the same
time animal-friendly system may be obtained.

2.2 Beddings Beddings are materials used in sheds for keeping the floor soft, dry,
and clean, which is important for animal health. They absorb the excrements of the
animals and need to be replaced from time to time. Beddings can be of straw,
leaves, twigs, husks or other locally available material. They can be replaced daily or
kept for several months while adding fresh material on top.

3. Animal Feeding

The availability of fodder is one of the limiting factors in animal husbandry. Unlike
landless systems in conventional farming, organic husbandry should be mainly
based on the fodder produced on the farm itself. As it is the case with humans,
there is a direct link between the quantity and composition of the food and the
health status of the animals.

3.1 Food Requirements of Animals If farm animals are to be productive (milk,

eggs, meat, etc.), it is important that they get suitable food in sufficient
quantities. If the fodder production of one’s farm is limited (which usually is
the case), it might be economically valid to keep fewer animals but supply
them with sufficient food. The appropriate quantity and the mix of feed
items will, of course, depend on the type of animal, but also on its main
use (e.g. chicken for meat or egg production, cattle for milk, meat or draft,
etc.). In milk production, for example, cows producing milk should be given
fresh grass and possibly other feed items of sufficient protein content. On
the same diet, draught animals would rapidly become exhausted.
3.2 Integrating fodder cultivation in the farm In most smallholder farms, fodder
cultivation will compete for space with the cultivation of crops. Whether
fodder cultivation (and thus animal husbandry) is economically more
beneficial compared with crop production must be assessed case by case.
However, there are some options for integrating fodder crops in farms
without sacrificing much land. Below are some examples:

• grass or leguminous cover crops in tree plantations;

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 • hedges of suitable shrubs;

• shade or support trees;

• grass on bunds against soil erosion;

• grass fallows or green manures in the crop rotation; and

• crops with by-products such as paddy straw or pea leaves.

3.3 Management of pastures The management of pastures is crucial for

good herd management. It is also important to practice appropriate
management throughout the year. There are many different types of
grasses, and every climatic region has grasses, which are specifically
adapted to the conditions.

4. Animal health
Disease-causing germs and parasites are present almost everywhere. Like humans,
animals have an immune system, which is usually able to cope with these germs. As
with humans, the efficiency of the immune system will be disturbed if animals are not
properly fed, cannot practice their natural behaviour, or are under social stress.
Health is a balance between disease pressure (i.e. the presence of germs and
parasites) and the resistance (i.e. immune system and self-healing forces) of the
animal. The farmer can influence both sides of this balance by reducing the number
of germs by maintaining good hygiene and strengthening the animals’ ability to cope
with germs.

5. Breeding Goals

Over the last decades, traditional ones have been replaced by high
performing breeds in many regions. Similar to high yielding plant varieties,
these new breeds usually depend on a rich diet (e.g. concentrates) and
optimal living conditions. As high performing breeds, in general, are more
susceptible to diseases than traditional varieties, they need frequent
veterinary interventions. Thus, these new breeds might not be the right choice
for small farmers, as the costs of food concentrate and veterinary treatments
are too high compared to what can be earned by selling the products. In
addition, for organic farmers, the main animal product (e.g. milk) is not the
only reason to keep animals. Breeding activities, therefore, should try to
optimize the overall performance of the animal, taking into consideration the
different goals of an organic farmer.

The regulations and standards governing the production and use of

organic health care products

Date Developed: Document No. NTTA-TM1-07

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The National Organic Standards implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) took effect on October 21, 2002. Products bearing the USDA Organic Label
meet the requirements of the National Organic Program (NOP) Final Rule, the national
standards for the production, handling, processing, and labeling of organically grown
food in the United States.
History: The Organic Foods Production Act; the making of the organic standards; court
rulings on organic; and congressional amendment
What Is Allowed and Required: The certification process for growers and processors;
what practices and substances are allowed and required; what is not regulated by the
organic standards
Labeling: What USDA organic labels mean and to which products they apply; the
labeling and regulation of products used in growing organic food
Importance of Organic Integrity: Why we must continue to insist that the National
Organic Standards Board upholds strict rules regulating organic agriculture

History of USDA Organic Regulations

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) to determine
uniform standards for organic agriculture and processing. The purpose was to establish
national standards for organic products in order to assure consumers that organically
produced products meet a consistent standard, and to facilitate interstate commerce in
fresh and processed organic food. The OFPA established the National Organic
Standards Board (NOSB), the purpose of which is to assist in the ongoing development
of organic standards. Prior to the USDA organic rules, state and local organizations
regulated organic production with some local variations in standards.
The USDA released a weak version of a proposed organic rule in October 1998, but it
was met with much criticism and sparked an unprecedented 325,603 public comments.
USDA proposed allowing bioengineered crops, sewage sludge, and irradiation in organic
production, which became known as the “big three.” Many changes, including removal of
the "big three," were made to the final rule.
Though it is generally agreed that the final rule is a vast improvement over the proposed
rule of 1998, many organic farmers and environmentalists have concerns with the
regulations. In October 2002, just days after the rules governing organic under NOP
were implemented, Maine blueberry farmer Arthur Harvey filed suit against USDA
claiming that USDA regulations governing foods labeled “organic” contravened several
principles of the OFPA (read "In the Words of Arthur Harvey" from Pesticides and
You).
Of primary concern were the allowance of certain non-organic agricultural substances
and certain synthetic ingredients under the organic label, and the treatment (feed, in
particular) of dairy cows transitioning to organic. Having initially lost on all counts,
Harvey prevailed in January 2005 when the Court of Appeals ruled in his favor that the
USDA organic regulations were in conflict with the OFPA. Groups, including Beyond
Pesticides, filed a petition asking USDA to bring the regulations into compliance with the
law (read more from Beyond Pesticides' Daily News Blog).
However, following the Harvey victory in the Court of Appeals, Congress engaged in
backroom talks with the Organic Trade Association and amended the OFPA to allow
synthetic substances in “organic” labeled products, and to adjust the feed regulations for
dairy cows. We reported on this amendment in the Winter 2005–2006 issue
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of Pesticides and You. Because of the amendments to OFPA, the court found in 2006
that the Secretary of Agriculture was not required to comply with the earlier consent
decree, thus reversing its earlier ruling in favor of Mr. Harvey. Many organic farmers’ and
consumers’ groups decried the amendments to the OFPA because of the lack of
democratic participation.
Beyond Pesticides, along with many sister organizations, issued an Open Letter to the
Organic Community to set the record straight on the amendments to the OFPA, and to
bridge differences in moving ahead together to strengthen the partnerships — between
consumers, farmers, and food processors — that will grow the organic marketplace.

What Is Allowed and Required

Farming varies from place to place and farmer to farmer. Organic farming is no different
than conventional farming in this regard, but there are certain underlying principles of
organic agriculture that are the basis for the regulations implemented by the USDA.
Rather than a doctrine on the values and interpretations of organic farming, the rules
have distilled organic principles into what is allowed, not allowed, and required for
certification. Often, people focus on what is not allowed in organic agriculture to highlight
its divergence from conventional agriculture. The use of antibiotics, sewage sludge,
genetically modified organisms, and irradiation is prohibited in organic production, and
the list of allowed pesticides is highly restricted to include only the least toxic controls,
derived primarily from natural (non-synthetic) ingredients.

Certification standards
All producers and handlers of organic products are required to be certified by a USDA
accredited certifying agent in order to claim to be USDA Certified Organic. There are
currently 55 domestic agencies and 40 international agencies accredited by the USDA.
Certifying agents make annual visits to farms and processing plants, and are permitted
to make unannounced visits to make sure a facility is in compliance with the standards.
Farms are required to submit to the certifier a comprehensive plan that includes things
such as the land history of all fields, a fertility and nutrient management plan, a pest,
weed, and disease management plan, and the origin, feed, and health care of livestock.
A grower must report all products used on the farm, as well as rate and date of
application. Failure to report a product used, even an approved one, will put the grower
out of compliance with the organic standards and result in appropriate reprimands and/or
revocation of certification.
For a complete explanation of these standards, including products allowed, visit the text
of the National Organic Standards.
There is also an independent organization, called the Organic Materials Review
Institute (OMRI), that reviews products submitted by applicants to determine if they
comply with the National Organic Standards. This list of OMRI-approved products is
widely used as the most comprehensive list of products approved for organic production.
OMRI is not affiliated with USDA and not all products approved for organic production
are listed with OMRI.

Pesticide Regulation
Organic production is subject to many more regulations aimed to protect ecological and
human health than is conventional agriculture. One area of particular importance, and iin
especially stark contrast to conventional agriculture, is the regulation of pesticides. In
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conventional agriculture, synthetic pesticides with known health effects may still be
registered for use, and the “inert” ingredients in the formulations are not taken into
consideration in the registration process, even though many inert ingredients are
toxic per se. Under the organic regulations, only naturally derived pesticides and a small
number of synthetic ingredients of low toxicity, such as boric acid, may be used. Inert
ingredients in these products must be approved for organic production.
Sometimes an active ingredient may be utilized in both conventional and organic
agriculture, but only certain formulations are approved for organic use because of the
inert ingredients. An example of this is the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which
is widely used to combat various insects in the larval stage. Bt itself degrades rapidly
and has very low toxicity to humans and wildlife. However, Bt’s effectiveness is
threatened by the introduction of genetically engineered crops in conventional agriculture
that contain Bt, such as corn, cotton, and potatoes. In these crops, Bt is always present,
which means there is great potential for insects to develop resistance to Bt. For more on
this issue, please visit our genetic engineering page.
Using even those pesticides approved for organic production is generally a last resort for
organic farmers. Crop rotation, good soil and plant health, and biological controls, such
as beneficial insects, are the favored methods for controlling pests and diseases.
Without the use of herbicides, organic farmers rely on good crop rotation, cover
cropping, mechanical cultivation, and mulching to limit weeds. No-till organic agriculture
is a new approach that combines some of these practices at once.

LABELING
In order to ensure a standard for the use of the term “organic” and the use of the "USDA
Organic" seal, the USDA has issued labeling protocols for fresh and processed
products containing organic ingredients. Only the top two listings may use the USDA
Organic seal on the product. Here is a summary:
“100% Organic” must consist of 100% organically produced ingredients and processing
aids, excluding water and salt; may display the USDA Organic seal.
“Organic” must consist of a minimum of 95% organically produced ingredients, excluding
water and salt, and the remaining ingredients must consist of nonagricultural substances
approved on the National List, and/or specific non-organically produced agricultural
substances not available commercially in organic form; may display the USDA Organic
seal.
“Made with Organic Ingredients” must contain at least 70% organic ingredients; may not
display the USDA Organic seal.
Products containing less than 70% organic ingredients may not use the word "organic"
on the principal display panel of the label, but may list specific organic ingredients in the
ingredients statement.
Each organic ingredient must be identified as such in the ingredient information box. The
name of the certifying agency must be displayed on the information panel.
“Certified Organic” applies only to products grown organically. It does not apply to
products that may be used in organic production. In other words, a carrot, a bag of
potato chips, or cotton may be certified organic, but the potting soil or biological pesticide
used in growing these products is not certified organic. The closest thing to the USDA
Organic seal for products used in organic agricultural production is the Organic
Materials Review Institute (OMRI) listing, but this is an independent agency not run by
Date Developed: Document No. NTTA-TM1-07
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the USDA National Organic Program. Companies pay to have their products evaluated
by OMRI, and OMRI tests them to see if they comply with the National Organic
Standards.

Importance of organic integrity

The Winter 2005–2006 issue of Pesticides and You expressly illustrates why a strong
organic standard with integrity is so important. It must be held up as the solution to the
pesticide problem. For example, if the two victims of pesticide poisoning described in this
issue were living in communities where organic is the norm, they probably would not
have been poisoned. Similarly, as the debate over the safety of pesticides continues,
and the regulatory risk assessment and risk management processes continue to be
politicized, it is clear that the real solution is the widespread adoption of organic
practices.
This issue also contains a special focus on pesticides and water, and the widespread
failures to protect the nation’s waterways from pesticide contamination. Agriculture is
only one source of the pesticide contamination, and along with advocating for organic
agriculture, Beyond Pesticides continues to advocate for organic lawn care. The National
Coalition for Pesticide Free Lawns is a broad coalition, with members in more than 20
states, working to eliminate toxic pesticide use in land care.

[Link]
ae73-6ad4825c7be6/content

[Link]
strong/national-organic-standards

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 Self- Check 1.1-5

(Type of Test):
multiple choice question
1 Which organic product is commonly used as a natural dewormer in
livestock?

a) Ivermectin
b) Garlic
c) Chemical anthelmintics
d) Antibiotics

2 What organic material is often used to promote hoof health in animals?

a) Formalin
b) Zinc sulfate
c) Copper sulfate
d) Diatomaceous earth

3. Which of the following is an organic method for controlling external

parasites in animals?

a) Synthetic pesticides
b) Neem oil
c) Chemical sprays
d) Antibiotics

4 What organic supplement is used to improve the digestion of ruminants?

a) Probiotics
b) Antibiotics
c) Growth hormones
d) Synthetic vitamins

5 Which of the following organic products is used to boost the immune

system of animals?

a) Echinacea
b) Synthetic steroids
c) Artificial supplements
d) Chemical antibiotics

6 Which organization in the United States is responsible for setting

standards for organic products?

a) FDA
b) USDA
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c) EPA
d) OSHA

7 What does the USDA Organic seal indicate?

a) The product contains 50% organic ingredients

b) The product contains 95% or more certified organic content
c) The product is made with synthetic chemicals
d) The product is not tested for pesticides

8 Which of the following is prohibited in the production of certified organic

health care products?

a) Natural fragrances
b) GMO ingredients
c) Essential oils
d) Plant extracts

9 In the European Union, which regulation sets the standards for organic
production? a) REACH
b) COSMOS
c) EU Organic Regulation
d) ECHA

10 Which of the following is a requirement for a product to be labeled as

"100% Organic" in the United States?

a) It can contain up to 5% non-organic ingredients

b) It must be certified by an accredited certifying agent
c) It must be produced using conventional farming methods
d) It can include synthetic preservatives

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 ANSWER KEYS

1. B

2. D

3. B

4. A

5. A

6. B

7. B

8. B

9. C

10. B

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 Date Developed: Document No. NTTA-TM1-07
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