Outdoor Access, Pasture and Grazing

What To Know About Outdoor Access, Pasture, and Grazing for Organic Livestock

Summary: Organic livestock must have year-round outdoor access, and ruminants must graze pasture during the grazing season, obtaining at least 30% of their dry matter intake (DMI) from grazing over a minimum of 120 days per year. Temporary confinement is allowed only for specific reasons. Documentation in your Organic System Plan (OSP) is required. Oregon Tilth also offers OPT Certified Grass-Fed Organic certification for operations that go beyond NOP grazing standards.

Outdoor Access Requirements

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requires certified livestock operations to provide outdoor access and living conditions that support the natural behavior and health of animals.

All certified organic livestock must have:

• Access to the outdoors
• Shade and shelter
• Exercise areas
• Clean drinking water
• Appropriate, clean, and dry bedding

These conditions must reflect the species, age, climate, and regional environment.

When Is Temporary Confinement Allowed?

You may confine animals temporarily only for specific, justifiable reasons. These must be recorded in your OSP and include:

• Severe or dangerous weather conditions
• Protection for young, pregnant, or vulnerable animals
• Situations that protect animal health or safety
• Soil or water quality protection
• Short periods for health treatments, sorting, transport, breeding, or youth fair projects

Note: Each reason for confinement has a maximum allowed timeframe. Be prepared to explain and document each confinement event.

Recordkeeping for Outdoor Access

Certifiers and inspectors will review your records to confirm that animals are receiving adequate outdoor access. You must:

• Keep documentation of normal management practices
• Log any confinement periods, reasons, and durations
• Maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) to track deviations
• Update your OSP as practices change

Pasture and Grazing Requirements for Ruminants

Organic standards require certified ruminants (such as cattle, sheep, and goats) to graze pasture during the grazing season.

Key grazing requirements:

• Minimum 30% DMI from pasture
• Grazing season must last at least 120 days
• Outdoor access is required year-round, not just during the grazing season

The length of the grazing season depends on your location, climate, and pasture conditions. If weather conditions disrupt your plan, you must update your OSP accordingly.

Note: This is commonly referred as your Pasture Management Plan.

How to Calculate Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

You must calculate DMI to show compliance with grazing requirements.

Common method: Subtraction method

• Calculate the animal’s total DMI based on body weight and life stage
• Subtract the DMI from feed fed during the grazing season
• The remainder is the DMI from pasture

To comply:

• The DMI from feed must be 70% or less
• The DMI from pasture must be at least 30%, averaged over the grazing season
• You may use a weighted average to account for variations during the season

We review your calculations and methods as part of the certification process.

Optional: OPT Certified Grass-Fed Organic Certification

Oregon Tilth also offers OPT Certified Grass-Fed Organic certification in partnership with the Organic Plus Trust (OPT). This program goes beyond NOP requirements for livestock grazing and feed.

Key features:

• Identifies farms minimizing grain use and maximizing pasture
• Recognized animal welfare certification required (e.g., GAP, Certified Humane, FARM)
• Can be added to your NOP certification for a flat $350 fee

Requirements for Producers:

• Must already be USDA NOP certified (or apply for both concurrently)
• 150-day minimum grazing season
• At least 60% DMI from grazing
• Maximize animal-harvested forage and minimize supplemental feed
• Approved feed supplements only when necessary for health and rumen function
• Annual inspection and clear segregation of grass-fed products in the supply chain

How to apply:

Submit the following forms to Oregon Tilth:

• OPT Grass-Fed Livestock Plan (OPT-L)
• OPT Grass-Fed Product Plan (OPT-P) (for processors)
• OPT Custom Grazing Affidavit
• OPT OCTO Policy Document

Summary Table: NOP vs OPT Grass-Fed Organic

Requirement	USDA NOP Organic	OPT Grass-Fed Organic
Outdoor access	Year-round	Year-round
Grazing season	≥120 days	≥150 days
Minimum DMI from pasture	30%	60%
Grain allowed	Yes (if organic)	Limited use
Additional certification needed	No	Yes (animal welfare program)
Annual inspection	Required	Required (combined with organic)