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USDA details standards in proposed organic livestock rule

[/title][fusion_text]Friday, April 8th 2016

Animal welfare standards for organic livestock and poultry production can be expected soon, USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service announced on Thursday. The proposed rule specifically bans de-beaking of chickens and turkeys and tail docking of cattle and sheep. Pigs’ tails can be docked but docking should not be “routinely used,” and the practice must include documentation that “alternative methods” to prevent the animals from biting each other’s tails failed. The standards would require group housing for pigs with the exception of boars and pigs with documented instances of aggression or in a state of recovery from illness. However, sows would be allowed to be individually housed during farrowing and suckling. The proposed rule also addresses – among other things – transport and slaughter conditions for organic production. Animals that are sick, injured, weak, disabled, blind, or lame cannot be transported for sale or slaughter and must be either treated or euthanized. It also calls for “adequate and season-appropriate” ventilation during transit as well as bedding of organically produced roughage on trailer floors and in holding pens. Poultry crates are exempt from the organic requirement. Once the proposed rule is published in the Federal Register, AMS will accept comments for 60 days. The agency is also hosting a webinar on the proposed standards next week.

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