Progress 09/15/04 to 09/14/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Since October 2002, foods sold in the US as "organic" must have been produced in accordance with the standards of USDA's National Organic Program (NOP), as required by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990. The goal of this research was to identify areas in which science and other organic standards together can guide the refinement of US standards to promote the health and welfare of organic livestock. To do this, we first did a detailed review of 14 sets of relevant materials: seven national or international standards for organic certification; the recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board; and the standards or guidelines of six US organizations that deal with livestock well-being, although not specifically in organic production. By comparing these materials in detail, we identified areas that are covered in some but not all of them. By highlighting gaps and inconsistencies, we sought to identify topics requiring further analysis. Second, we systematically searched databases, journals, bibliographies, and major works in the field of livestock health and welfare for items relevant to organic production of dairy, beef cattle, swine, and poultry (broilers and layers). The search covered the databases Science Citation Index, Organic Eprints Archive, Compendium of Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Farming, Science Direct, CAB Abstracts, Animal Behavior Abstracts, and Agricola; the journals Animal Welfare, Livestock Production Science, and Journal of Animal Science; and the series of proceedings issued by two international consortia: the Network for Animal Health and Welfare in Organic Agriculture and Sustaining Animal Health, and Food Safety in Organic Farming. A preliminary compilation of the results of these searches was discussed at length at a two-day meeting of stakeholders and livestock production experts held in April 2007. Examples of general issues involving more than one livestock type that the NOP covers either much less specifically than many of the other standards examined, or not at all, and for which a substantial scientific literature exists, include the following: 1) emphasizing preventive approaches to maintaining animal health, 2) providing colostrum and milk to young mammals, 3) grouping herd animals so as to permit expression of social behavior, 4) minimizing length of transport, 5) keeping animals in appropriate groups during transport and providing them with adequate food and water. The following are examples for specific livestock types: 1) inclusion of perches in poultry housing, 2) prohibition of gestation crates for sows, 3) provision of sufficient space for beef cattle to lie down together, 4) prohibition of tail docking in dairy cows except when called for by a veterinarian for medical reasons. A full listing of areas for possible elaboration of the standards is found in Lockeretz and Merrigan (2006). The arguments behind them and the scientific literature supporting them are summarized in Merrigan and Lockeretz (2007) and Merrigan et al. (submitted). We also are preparing a series of papers treating all such recommendations for each category of livestock in detail. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We held one joint meeting involving both animal science experts and other stakeholders, rather than meeting with them separately. The reason was that many people fell into both groups that we thought it would be more efficient to have one large meeting. This turned out to be a good decision, because the meeting was extremely fruitful.
Impacts
Setting satisfactory standards for organic foods is a complex process that in part, but only in part, involves scientific knowledge and understanding. It also involves industry codes, interactions with other federal regulations, and economic and other interests of diverse stakeholders, including producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and consumers. For livestock health and welfare, the potential scientific underpinnings of sound organic standards are substantial, even though additional research is needed on some topics. However, much of the scientific knowledge that might be applied to the elaboration of standards is not readily available or usable to the range of stakeholders who could take advantage of it. It is published in a wide range of media, typically in a highly specialized style accessible primarily to other specialists in the field. To be of value in setting standards, this literature needs to be systematically compiled, categorized, and interpreted. That is what this project has attempted to achieve. It makes accessible to standard-setters and other involved groups a large body of scientific information drawn not just from research specifically about organic livestock, but also from conventionally oriented research that is relevant to organic standards. However, it is much too soon to know the impact that this work will have on standard-setting. As noted, the process involves much more than purely scientific considerations, and to change or expand standards typically takes many years.
Publications
- W. Lockeretz and K. Merrigan (2006) Ensuring comprehensive organic livestock standards. In: Proceedings of the First IFOAM International Conference on Animals in Organic Production, August 23-25, 2006.
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