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Feed and Nutrition

April 16, 2024

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Organic Feed and Nutrition Requirements for Livestock

Summary: Organic livestock must be fed certified organic feed that meets their nutritional needs without prohibited additives. Feed rations can include certified organic grains, forages, kelp, and approved supplements.

All ingredients must comply with the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards. Feeding livestock any prohibited materials will result in permanent loss of organic certification.

Why Organic Feed Compliance Matters

Livestock feed plays a central role in maintaining organic certification. Your Organic System Plan (OSP) must demonstrate how your feed sources, rations, and supplements meet organic regulations.

Strong feed practices ensure:

  • Animal health and productivity
  • Compliance with USDA organic standards
  • Transparency for inspections and audits
  • Protection against contamination and prohibited substances

Basic Feed Requirements

What are the core requirements for organic livestock feed?

  • All agricultural feed ingredients must be certified organic
    This includes:
    • Grains: corn, oats, barleyBean and seed meals: soybean meal, flax mealForages: hay, silage, pastureKelp (certified organic)
    If you grow your own feed, include it in your OSP. If you purchase feed, source it from certified organic producers with documentation.

  • Allowed non-agricultural, non-synthetic ingredients
    Permitted if not prohibited on the National List, including:
    • Fishmeal (without synthetic preservatives)
    • Blue-green algae
    • Probiotics and microbes (e.g., yeast, bacteria) — must be non-GMO

  • Allowed synthetic feed additives must be approved
    These must appear on the National List. Approved examples include:
    • DL-Methionine (for poultry, within specific limits)

    • Trace minerals and vitamins (fortification or enrichment only)


    Any synthetic ingredient must be reviewed and approved by Oregon Tilth before use.

  • Feed carriers and binding agents (e.g., molasses) must also be certified organic if agricultural.

Watch this video from the Washington State Department of Agriculture for a detailed explanation of feed requirements for organic livestock.

Complete Feed vs. Custom Rations

What’s the difference?

  • Complete Feed:
    Pre-formulated and certified organic by the manufacturer. Offers peace of mind — all ingredients meet organic requirements.

  • Custom Feed Rations:
    If you mix your own feed using individual ingredients, supplements, or additives:
    • Submit all ingredients to OTCO for review
    • Document their origin and compliance
    • Use lot numbers for traceability

Unique Feed Ingredients: What You Can and Can’t Use

IngredientAllowed in Organic Feed?Special Considerations
KelpYesMust be certified organic
Fish/Crab MealYesNo synthetic preservatives (e.g., ethoxyquin)
DL-MethionineYesOnly for poultry, with limits
Probiotics & MicrobesYesMust be non-GMO
Gelatin, Bone Meal, Blood MealNoDerived from slaughter by-products
Manure or UreaNoStrictly prohibited

Prohibited Ingredients and Practices

What is not allowed in organic livestock feed?

  • Synthetic ingredients not on the National List
  • Manure or urea
  • Slaughter by-products (blood, meat, bone meal, gelatin, bone charcoal)
  • Growth-promoting drugs or hormones
  • Antibiotics or ionophores
  • Feed additives exceeding nutritional needs
  • Non-organic agricultural ingredients
  • Genetically engineered vitamins/minerals
  • Anything that violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
  • Feeding non-organic feed temporarily — not allowed under any circumstance

Reminder: Products that are certified organic for human consumption may not be compliant for certified organic livestock feed.

Livestock that consumes a prohibited material loses organic certification permanently.

Feed Supplements vs. Health Care Inputs

Some products may be either feed supplements or animal health inputs depending on how you use them.

What’s the difference?

CategoryUseCompliance Requirements
Feed SupplementsPart of the daily dietMust meet organic feed standards. Agricultural ingredients must be certified organic. Synthetic ingredients must be approved.
Health Care InputsUsed to treat or prevent illnessMust meet health input standards. May include non-organic ingredients but must be reviewed.

Examples:

  • Daily probiotic in feed = supplement
  • Probiotic given during illness = health care input

OTCO will determine classification based on intended use. Always submit products for review before use.

Resources to Determine Nutritional Needs

The NOP requires that rations meet the full nutritional needs of your animals. These resources can help:

Recommended References:

Helpful Webinars:

Tip: Not all veterinarians or nutritionists are familiar with organic standards. Always submit feed rations and supplements to OTCO before use.

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Contact Information

Oregon Tilth Main Office
PO Box 368
Corvallis, OR 97339
Phone: (503) 378-0690
Toll Free: (877) 378-0690
Email: organic@tilth.org

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