Medicine and Health

Preventative Care, Medications, and Antibiotics in Organic Livestock Production

Summary: Organic livestock producers must use preventative health practices to keep animals healthy. Vaccines and veterinary biologics are allowed. Synthetic medications are only permitted after preventative care has failed and must be approved by Oregon Tilth. Antibiotics are strictly prohibited in organic production, but animals must be treated when needed—even if they lose organic status. Teat dips and emergency treatments have additional restrictions and documentation requirements.

Preventative Care for Organic Livestock

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requires organic livestock operations to prioritize preventative care to support animal health and reduce the need for synthetic drugs.

Oregon Tilth (OTCO) reviews your Organic System Plan (OSP) to ensure you are using appropriate preventative health practices.

Required Preventative Practices

Your animal health plan must include the following six practices:

1. Choose livestock suited to your region. Select breeds that naturally resist local pests, diseases, and parasites.
   
   
2. Provide complete nutrition. Feed must meet species-specific dietary needs.
   
   
3. Ensure good housing and sanitation. Maintain clean facilities and pastures.
   
   
4. Allow natural behavior. Offer access to exercise, fresh air, and freedom of movement.
   
   
5. Use humane physical alterations. Only when necessary, and with pain minimized.
   
   
6. Administer approved vaccines and biologics. These help prevent disease without relying on prohibited drugs.
   
   

When Animals Get Sick

Despite best efforts, animals may still get ill. If preventative practices fail, treatment is required—but must follow organic rules.

Can I Use Synthetic Medications?

Only if:

• Preventative care has been attempted first.
• The medication is allowed on the National List of synthetic substances.
• The medication and its excipients are reviewed and approved by OTCO.

Always submit synthetic medications for OTCO approval before use.

Understanding Excipients

What is an excipient?
An excipient is an inactive ingredient in a drug—such as preservatives, binders, or emulsifiers—that supports the delivery of the active substance.

Allowed Excipients (per USDA Organic Rules)

An excipient is allowed if it is:

• Recognized by the FDA as Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS)
• Approved by the FDA as a food additive
• Included in an FDA-approved New Animal Drug Application (NADA)

⚠️ Labels usually list only active ingredients. You must request a full list of active and inactive ingredients from the manufacturer for OTCO review.

Submitting Medication for Approval

To request approval for a synthetic medication:

1. Submit a material request to OTCO.
   
   
2. Include a complete ingredient list, provided by the manufacturer.
   
   
3. OTCO will review both the active ingredients and excipients.
   
   

What Does “Approved with Restrictions” Mean?

Some medications are only allowed for specific uses. For example:

• Glycerin is only allowed as a teat dip active ingredient and must be made through hydrolysis of fats or oils.
• Other uses or production methods are prohibited.

Review the Approved Inputs List in your MyOTCO account to verify use restrictions.

Antibiotic Use in Organic Livestock

Antibiotics (including ionophores) are prohibited in organic animal production.

If used:

• The animal loses organic status permanently.
• The animal and its products cannot be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

💡 You must treat animals when necessary. Withholding care to maintain organic status is not allowed under USDA organic rules.

Documentation Requirements

Inspectors will verify:

• Treatment records.
• That animals treated with antibiotics are clearly identified and segregated.
• That no products from these animals are sold as organic.

Teat Dips for Milking Livestock

Teat dips help prevent mastitis and are considered health care products under FDA rules.

Requesting Approval

Submit your teat dip through OTCO’s material review process. Include:

• Manufacturer ingredient list
• Justification for use, especially for restricted materials

Allowed Teat Dips

• Chlorhexidine – Allowed only when other methods have failed; justification required.
• Glycerin – Allowed only if produced through fat/oil hydrolysis and used as a teat dip.
• Iodine – Allowed if all supporting ingredients (excipients) are compliant.

Emergency Disease Treatment Programs

Occasionally, federal or state agencies require the use of prohibited substances during disease outbreaks.

If Your Livestock Are Treated in an Emergency

• Livestock and their products lose organic status.
• Treated milk may be sold as organic after 12 months from the last treatment date.
• Offspring may be considered organic if the animal was not in the final third of gestation during treatment.

Required Records

• Mandate or emergency program documentation
• Name and purpose of required substances
• Reason why no approved organic alternative was used
• Application schedule and location
• Animal details (species, life stage, etc.)

Summary: Stay Compliant and Prioritize Animal Health

• Use preventative care first.
• Submit synthetic medications and teat dips for OTCO approval before use.
• Treat sick animals—even with antibiotics—if necessary, but document and segregate.
• Understand restrictions and maintain accurate, up-to-date records.