Help Center
What To Know About Organic Livestock Handling and Processing
Summary: To maintain organic status, livestock must be transported, sold, and processed following strict USDA National Organic Program (NOP) rules. You may use uncertified transporters, but animals cannot be unloaded at uncertified locations. Livestock must be sold only through certified organic auctions and processed at certified organic slaughter facilities. Any deviation results in immediate loss of organic status.
Livestock Transport Operators
Do Livestock Transporters Need Organic Certification?
No, certification is not required, but it is allowed.
Livestock transporters moving animals between certified farms or facilities do not need to be certified under the USDA Organic regulations. However, they may choose to get certified if they want to market themselves as organic-compliant.
What Are the Rules for Using an Uncertified Transporter?
If you use an uncertified transporter, you must ensure that:
- Animals are not unloaded at any uncertified facility.
- Animals are uniquely identified — by individual tag, number, or flock.
As an Oregon Tilth certified livestock producer, your Organic System Plan (OSP) must describe:
- How animals are transported
- How they are identified as organic
- When ownership changes (if applicable)
- How animal welfare is protected during transport
- How organic integrity is maintained during transit
Purchasing Organic Livestock
Can I Buy Organic Livestock at a Non-Organic Auction Yard?
No. All organic livestock must be sold through a certified organic auction yard or other certified sales outlet.
Livestock are considered unpackaged organic products, and all handling and sales must take place under certified conditions.
⚠️ Note: Buying or selling organic animals through uncertified auction yards results in immediate loss of organic status.
How Do I Verify That an Auction Yard is Certified?
Before you place a bid on organic animals, request and review the auction yard’s organic certificate. This ensures the sale will meet organic certification requirements.
What If I Accidentally Use an Uncertified Auction Yard?
- Animals lose organic status immediately.
- They may not be sold as organic.
- They cannot re-enter organic production.
- They may still be sold as non-organic livestock.
For special sale situations (like on-farm sales or video auctions), contact Oregon Tilth to confirm if the sale meets organic handling requirements.
Tip:
Check out our Recordkeeping Requirements for Livestock Operations to make sure your purchase and transport records meet organic standards.
Slaughter Facilities
Must I Use a Certified Organic Slaughter Facility?
Yes. Slaughter facilities must be certified organic if you’re processing livestock to be sold as organic meat.
Planning ahead is essential. Ensure you have access to a certified organic slaughter facility before raising animals for organic slaughter.
What Happens if I Use an Uncertified Slaughter Facility?
- Animals immediately lose their organic status.
- The meat cannot be sold as organic.
- The product may still be sold as non-organic.
What About “Live on the Hoof” Sales?
You may sell livestock as “live on the hoof”, meaning a buyer purchases the animal (or a portion of it) before slaughter. This is permitted under organic rules, provided the live animal sale is conducted according to NOP standards.