Help Center

#Calculate Dry Matter Intake Video Resources

OTCO DMI Calculator Worksheet
OTCO DMI Calculator Worksheet (printable version)
More resources on our OSP Livestock page here: tilth.org/help-center/osp-livestock/

Calculating Dry Matter Intake Long-Form Video Resource

Calculating Dry Matter Intake with the Auto-calculating Excel Spreadsheet

#Audit trail exercises for livestock

Organic inspectors are required to conduct at least one traceback and one mass balance audit trail exercise and a feed audit at each annual inspection. The audit trail evaluates your recordkeeping system as well as activities for traceability and compliance.

How does an audit trail exercise work?

For livestock producers, a complete and thorough audit trail enables livestock and/or livestock products — e.g., milk — to be traced back to the origin. An inspector will be able to easily review individual livestock and livestock products from origin,  the production inputs used, feed sources and pastures grazed, and more.

How do I build my recordkeeping system so it’s easily audited?

It’s critical to establish a common link between all activities, materials and documents in your control system. For instance, using animal identification codes enables a reviewer to work through each phase of your operation. From birth, through grazing and feeding to health care, identifiers make individual records traceable, timely and transparent.

No matter what system you use, it’s critical that your records are well understood by all employees and are clear for inspectors and certifier review.

#Requirements

Your recordkeeping system demonstrates where promise and practice meet for compliance with organic standards. The annual inspection reviews every aspect — from birth records to feed rations — of organic livestock production. Our ability to easily audit and trace all certified organic livestock products maintains the integrity of your farm and enables quick action if issues occur.

What basic requirements are needed for recordkeeping?

Each recordkeeping system will be different. You must maintain documentation — your Organic System Plan outlines recordkeeping strategies, management, and storage — that demonstrates all requirements are being met. Additionally, a few core practices are needed:

• Records are easily accessible on-site for inspection
• Documentation must be adapted to reflect your operation
• All records must be clear, well-organized and auditable

How long do I need to keep records for?

All records related to your organic product need to be stored for at least five years.

What records do I need to keep?

You will need to keep records for all of your major on-farm livestock activities and practices. Check out the other articles in this section for examples of records required by activity, as well as our collection of recordkeeping templates.

#Transitioning livestock to organic

Can I convert my livestock to organic?

The USDA National Organic Program standards allow operations that are not certified for organic livestock and that have not transitioned dairy animals to transition a distinct herd of dairy animals — cattle, sheep, goats, etc. — only one time. Transitioning conventional dairy animals to organic requires one year of documented organic management.  Operations may not transition additional animals, or source transitioned animals from other operations unless it is approved under a temporary variance, after the one-time transition is complete.

Once an animal has transitioned to organic, it may not be reinstated if its organic certification is forfeited (e.g., treated with antibiotics, fed non-organic feed, etc.).

How long does livestock transition take?

The transition to organic process takes one year.

Livestock must be managed and raised in accordance with organic management requirements for feed and feed supplements, medications, grazing, and living conditions for a full year (365 days) prior to being eligible for organic certification for dairy production. If your certifier finds noncompliance during the livestock conversion process, you will be required to restart the process.

#Livestock eligibility for organic transition

Which livestock are eligible for organic transition?

Dairy animals

You can transition a distinct herd of dairy animals to organic over a one-year period of time, only one time, and only if your operation is not already certified for organic livestock and has never transitioned dairy animals to organic. We’ve outlined specific considerations for feed, pasture and breeding stock below.

Poultry
Conventional poultry may be converted to organic production (meat and eggs) only if it was raised organically beginning the second day of life (e.g., “day-old chicks”).

Which livestock are not eligible for organic transition?

Slaughter stock

Under no circumstances can conventional animals be converted or sold as organic slaughter stock. Animals that have transitioned to organic dairy production are not eligible for organic slaughter.

However, slaughter stock under full organic management beginning no later than the third trimester of gestation is eligible for certification. The mother cow — or other animal — must be managed organically for at least the last third of gestation before the slaughter animal was born.

Poultry
Older poultry grown under conventional management are allowed only as breeder stock for the production of hatching eggs. Neither the conventional birds nor their eggs can be sold as organic.

Formerly organic livestock

You may not transition any animal that was once certified organic after certification is forfeited.

What can I feed my milking animal during transition?

Milking animals in transition must be fed certified organic feed and pasture or third year transitioning crops from the operations own land. If third year transitioning feed is consumed during the transitioning period of a milking animal in their last third of gestation, the offspring born will also be considered transitioned and not organic slaughter eligible.

What do I need to know about transitioning breeding stock?

Breeding stock do not require a transition process. However, for offspring to be considered organic, the mother must be managed organically from the last third of gestation (pregnancy).

Do I need to transition all my pasture before transitioning my livestock?

Dairy animals in transition may be fed pasture and feedstuffs harvested from any of your fields that are in the third and final year of transition to organic certification.

Third-year transitional pasture and feed must meet all the organic requirements with the exception of land history. Once livestock in transition are eligible for organic certification, they may no longer be fed transitional feed. Consider timing your pasture and cropland transition to be completed at the same time (or prior to) the completion of your animals’ transition. You must keep records that confirm requirements were met throughout the conversion year.

#Outdoor access and pasture

What are the outdoor access requirements for organic livestock?

The organic standards require farmers to establish and maintain livestock living conditions that accommodate the health and natural behavior of animals suitable to the species, stage of life, climate, and the environment.

This includes, but is not limited to:

• Access to the outdoors
• Shade
• Shelter
• Exercise
• Clean water for drinking
• Appropriate and clean dry bedding

Can I temporarily confine my animals due to pregnancy, inclement weather etc.?

You may be eligible to provide temporary confinement for animals if:

• Severe inclement weather poses a threat to the animals
• Stage of life requires protection or separation
• Separation is the only protection for the health, safety, or well-being of the animals
• Soil or water quality require protection

Short periods of confinement may also be allowed for health care practices, treatments, sorting, shipping, breeding, or youth projects.

All reasons for temporary confinement have a maximum length of time. You will need to provide detailed information regarding reasons and time periods for confinement in your OSP.

What documentation do I need for outdoor access?

You must provide documentation to demonstrate you’ve met all outdoor access requirements.

Recordkeeping is required for normal management activities as well as any deviation from standard practices. Some livestock operations maintain a standard operating procedure manual, noting changes or differences from your protocols. Inspectors and certifiers will review the documentation to confirm that you are meeting your outdoor access plan and all requirements.

#Livestock transport operators

Do livestock transporters require certification?

No. Livestock transporters that move animals from one certified farm or facility to another are not required to hold organic certification. Transporters are eligible for organic certification.

What do I need to know about using an uncertified livestock transporter?

If using uncertified transporters, organic animals must be (a) moved without unloading at uncertified facilities, and (b) uniquely identified by individual animal or flock.

As an OTCO-certified livestock producer, we’ll ask you to provide information regarding your plan for livestock transportation as part of your Organic System Plan, including:

• How animals are transported
• How animals are identified as organic
• At what point ownership of the animals changes
• How the transporter is prepared to handle animal welfare during transport
• How organic integrity of the livestock is maintained while in transport

#Preventative care for animal health

The use of preventative practices to promote animal health is central to organic production. Only after preventative practices and veterinary biologics are inadequate may synthetic medications be administered.

How do I make a preventative care plan for my livestock?

OTCO will review your Organic System Plan to ensure your preventative practices are adequate to promote good animal health. Start with the six preventative health care practices outlined in the USDA National Organic Program standards:

• Choose species and types of livestock best suited for your region’s conditions, diseases and parasites
• Provide a feed ration designed to meet your animals’ nutritional requirements
• Establish appropriate housing, pasture conditions, and sanitation practices
• Provide conditions for exercise, freedom of movement, and reduction of stress appropriate to the species
• Perform physical alterations as needed to promote the animal’s welfare, minimizes pain and alleviates stress
• Administer vaccines and other veterinary biologics as appropriate

What happens if, despite preventative care, my animals get sick?

If preventative practices prove inadequate, you will need to follow all restrictions for medications and antibiotics, as explained below.

#Slaughter facilities

Do I need to use a certified organic slaughter facility?

Yes. All operations, including slaughter facilities, that produce and handle livestock to be sold as organic must be certified. It’s important to plan for accessing a certified organic facility if choosing to raise organic livestock.

What happens if I use an uncertified slaughter facility?

Any certified organic animal processed at an uncertified facility immediately loses its organic status. It may not be sold as organic. However, it can still be sold as non-organic product.

Livestock can be sold “live on the hoof,” meaning that a buyer takes ownership of the live animal or portion of the live animal prior to slaughter.

#Requirements for ruminant grazing

Livestock farmers are required to demonstrate a functioning pasture management plan for all certified organic ruminant livestock.

How much of the year do my livestock need to graze?

Ruminant livestock must obtain no less than 30 percent of their dry matter intake from grazing over the length of the grazing season. The grazing season will vary depending on your region but must be a minimum of 120 days.

How much of the year do my livestock need outdoor access?

Livestock must have outdoor access year-round in addition to grazing season pasture management plans.

What if I do not meet the minimum grazing requirement?

If the required 120 grazing days minimum is not met during the grazing season, OTCO will examine your Organic System Plan (OSP) for information and confirmation regarding your location, seasonality, climate, and intended grazing season length. Usually, the grazing season is much longer than the 120-day minimum, but the length varies based on region.

We hold you accountable to the details of your OSP’s grazing plan. Please note, the grazing season may or may not be continuous due to weather conditions or climate.

How do I do dry matter calculations?

You must find an approach to calculate animals’ dry matter demand and dry matter intake. We will review your methods to determine appropriateness and accuracy.

In most cases, farmers use the “subtraction method.” The dry matter of consumed feed is subtracted from your livestock’s total dry matter demand. Your calculation must demonstrate that the amounts of feed for animals during the grazing season must be 70 percent or less for compliance. You must meet the dry matter intake — often much higher than 30 percent — threshold as outlined in your OSP.

A weighted average over the grazing season may be used to calculate that dry matter intake from pasture meets your OSP. Such an approach helps account for end of season decline in pasture nutrition or stunted growth from excessive heat.

#Restrictions and use of synthetic medications and excipients

Can I use synthetic medications?

Organic livestock operations can only use synthetic medications if they are allowed per the National List. Prior to using synthetic medications, you must demonstrate adequate use of preventative practices as a first measure.

What is an excipient?

Excipients are ingredients in a medication that do not provide any therapeutic or diagnostic effects. Typically, they assist or enhance the administration and delivery of the active ingredient to maximize its effectiveness. Commonly they are found as inactive ingredients such as emulsifiers or preservatives.

Which excipients are allowed?

The National List includes an allowance for synthetic excipients with the following restriction:

“Only for use in the manufacture of drugs used to treat organic livestock when the excipient is: Identified by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration] as Generally Recognized As Safe; approved by the FDA as a food additive; or, included in the FDA review and approval of a New Animal Drug Application or New Drug Application.”

Can I use a medication prior to approval from OTCO?

OTCO recommends you submit all medications for review and approval prior to use. Upon receipt of a medication request, we will review both the active ingredient(s) and the excipients to ensure they meet the requirements for organic production. You must provide a complete ingredient statement at the time of the request.

How do I request approval of a synthetic medication?

To request approval of a synthetic medication, follow the steps for adding a material to your Organic System Plan.

For a synthetic medication, be sure to include a complete ingredient list — OTCO requires manufacturer-provided lists of active and inactive ingredients — with your submission.

What does a “medication is approved with restrictions” mean?

Be mindful of and track any usage restrictions associated with approved medications. Several materials, despite approval for use, will include restrictions for how they can be used. Any other use is prohibited. You can view restrictions on your approved inputs list in MyOTCO.

As an example, glycerin is only allowed when used as the active ingredient in a livestock teat dip. Additionally, it must be produced through the hydrolysis of fats or oils. It is not allowed as an active ingredient in any other medication, or if produced by other unapproved methods.

#Teat dips

Teat dips are classified by the Food and Drug Administration as health care products used to prevent mastitis and other prevalent diseases in milking livestock.

How do I request approval for a teat dip?

Follow the steps for adding a material to your Organic System Plan. OTCO will need time to review and approve your teat dip — or equivalent material — prior to use.

Which teat dips are eligible for use with my livestock?

Chlorhexidine
Chlorhexidine is only allowed as a teat dip when alternative germicidal agents and/or physical barriers have lost their effectiveness. If you are requesting the use of a chlorhexidine-based teat dip, first you must provide clear justification for its use per the restriction.

Give a detailed explanation of issues with alternative teat dips, including how you’ve addressed aftercare such as clean bedding or cows remain in standing position following milking. Only after acceptable justification will OTCO review the proposed chlorhexidine-based teat dip.

Glycerin
Glycerin is allowed as a teat dip as long as it is produced through the hydrolysis of fats and oils. You will need to provide manufacturer confirmation in accordance with the process-based manufacturing restriction. Glycerin is prohibited for use as an active ingredient in all other organic livestock animal products or applications.

Iodine
Iodine-based teat dips are allowed as long as all ingredients used to keep the iodine in liquid form are compliant with organic standards. All excipients are also subject to review. To establish compliance, we will require detailed information from the iodine manufacturer to determine the specific purpose of each ingredient in the product.

#Prohibitions for livestock feed

What is prohibited in organic livestock feed?

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) prohibits the following for livestock feed:

• Synthetic materials not allowed per the National List
• Manure or urea
• Mammalian or poultry slaughter by-products, including blood, meat or bone meal, bone charcoal
• Substances derived from slaughter by-products such as gelatin
• Drugs or hormones used to promote animal growth
• Antibiotics or ionophores
• Feed supplements or additives at levels beyond the animal’s nutritional needs
• Non-certified organic agricultural ingredients
• Certain vitamins and minerals that are proteinated or derived from slaughter by-products or GMOs
• Anything that violates the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act

The program also prohibits the restriction of ruminant livestock — except as allowed — from grazing on pasture during the grazing season. OTCO will not grant temporary variances to feed non-organic feed to organic livestock.

You can read more about what is prohibited in organic livestock feed in the NOP Handbook.

What happens if I feed organic livestock a prohibited material?

Livestock fed a prohibited material will permanently lose organic certification.

#Add livestock certification

Adding livestock to your organic crop certification will require an on-site inspection by an organic inspector, possibly at the time of your annual inspection if your request is done with enough advance notice.

What is the cost of adding livestock certification?

There is a $250 annual fee for the livestock certification scope. We request payment at the time of your livestock addition request.

What if I need to add land for livestock use?

Follow the steps for adding new land for pasture or outdoor access for livestock. If a livestock addition will change your crop OSP, be sure to update it as well as your C6 worksheet (section 6.2).

What livestock processing or transport activities require additional info?

No matter what livestock you want to add, you’ll need to complete forms for livestock processing and/or transport if you or a contracted party do any of the following:

• Sell organic products, including live animals
• Milk animals, cool or store milk
• Mix, mill or grind livestock feed for use
• Wash or pack eggs
• Slaughter animals
• Cool, age, cut or wrap meat
• Process fibers
• Transport organic livestock

How do I add ruminant mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep, goats, etc.)?

To request the addition of ruminant mammals with an existing crop certification, fill out the forms below to build your livestock OSP.

How do I add non-ruminant, non-avian mammals (e.g., pigs, rabbits, etc.)?

To request the addition of non-ruminant, non-avian mammals with an existing crop certification, fill out the forms below to build your livestock OSP.

How do I add avian species (e.g., chickens, turkeys, etc.)?

To request the addition of avian species with an existing crop certification, fill out the forms below to build your livestock OSP.

#Emergency treatments for livestock

On rare occasions, federal or state authorities put into effect emergency pest or disease treatment programs that mandate the use of materials that are prohibited for use in organic production.

What happens to my certification if I’m required to use a prohibited material?

Livestock treated with a prohibited substance due to a federal or state emergency pest or disease treatment program, or any product derived from treated livestock, may not be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

When can I sell milk or milk-based products as organic if dairy livestock were treated due to an emergency mandate?

Beginning 12 months after the last date that the dairy animal was treated with the prohibited substance, milk or milk products may be sold, labeled, or represented as organic.

Is offspring of mammalian livestock considered organic if treated due to an emergency mandate?

Provided the mammalian breeder stock was not in the last third of gestation when treated with the prohibited substance, offspring of may be considered organic.

What records are needed for a federal or state emergency treatment program?

We request as much information as possible prior to implementation of a federal or state emergency treatment program. Records may include:

• Copy of the federal or state emergency program mandate
• Info regarding the required material for application
• Whether or not an alternative approved organic material or method is available
• Explanation for why an alternative cannot be used
• Locations and schedule for applications
• Information such as animal life stage, etc.

#Add a new species of livestock

Adding a new species requires a review and update of your Organic System Plan (OSP) to accurately reflect your livestock operation’s activities.

Do I need to submit paperwork for purchases of currently certified livestock species?

Provided you’re not making significant changes to your production practices, there’s no need to contact OTCO or submit OSP updates. Please follow the recordkeeping practices for purchases of organic livestock.

Will I need to update any other parts of my OSP?

Review your OSP and update any parts that will change as a result of the species addition. We’ve added the most common forms that need updating below.

What if my species addition requires a crop or pasture update?

For livestock operations that grow crops or provide pasture for animals, you must review all current crop forms (usually C2 through C12) and update them to reflect any changes that will occur as a result of adding the new species.

Remember to make updates if making changes to crops, crop rotation, and/or adding new land for pasture.

If you do not currently grow crops or provide pasture, but will be adding them, please complete and submit all of the crop paperwork (C2 through C12).

How do I add avian species to my operation?

To request the addition of avian species to your livestock certification, fill out the forms below.

How do I add non-ruminant mammals to my operation?

To request the addition of non-ruminant mammals to your livestock certification, fill out the forms below.

How do I add ruminant mammals to my operation?

To request the addition of ruminant to your livestock certification, fill out the forms below.

#Material(s) records for livestock

Documentation of materials used on your farm is a critical part of your recordkeeping system. An inspection will review the materials used, how they are used, and determine the compliance of your certification.

Which materials do I need to keep records for?

You will need to maintain purchase records for all materials used in livestock production such as pest controls, sanitizers, housing, supplements, and more.

What records do I need to keep for materials?

You will need to maintain purchase records and receipts for each material used. In addition, you will need to keep records of each material used, application target, date of application, and the amount applied. One simple approach is to file each receipt or vet record — with dates and labels — with the brand name, care provider, manufacturer, and ingredient list in chronological order in a binder.

How do I document when and how a material is used?

Using animal identifiers — with color codes, material codes, etc. — is a useful way to document material(s) used on your farm. You and an inspector will be able to trace application of materials for compliance and your future production plans.

Do I need to maintain records for equipment sanitation?

For all sanitation materials used in direct contact with livestock products — examples include milk line sanitizers, carcass wash, etc. — you will need to keep an equipment cleaning log.

#Living condition records

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) outlines requirements for outdoor access and grazing for ruminant and non-ruminant livestock. Records should verify the “Living Conditions” section of your Organic System Plan (OSP), which outlines your plans for housing, outdoor access, cleaning, and lengths of confinement for specific reasons.

What information do I need to keep for bedding records?

If you use roughages for bedding, you must document organic certificates and purchase receipts. If, however, you use forestry products such as wood shavings for bedding, they are not required to be organic.

What documentation is needed for avian housing?

You will need to demonstrate how your ventilation keeps ammonia levels below 25 parts per million, and your extra monitoring practices whenever levels exceed 10 parts per million. Documentation of ammonia levels testing should correspond with the monitoring type — e.g., test strips, electronic meters — and frequency as indicated in your OSP.

If using artificial light, you’re required to document the amount of time and type of artificial light used in your OSP (OTCO allows a maximum of 16 hours of continuous daylight). For example, if there are six hours of daylight in winter months and you use artificial light to prolong daylight to 10 total hours, you will need records demonstrating the light’s total time of active and dimming ability.

What information do I need to keep for grazing and pasture access?

A livestock grazing record — a calendar system, notebook, or spreadsheet — easily audited by an inspector, must show ruminants daily grazing throughout the grazing season(s), for a minimum of 30 percent of daily dry matter intake. The length of the grazing season will vary depending on region, but you must document at least 120 days on pasture. On your sheet, you’ll want to indicate the number of days in your grazing season, the days in which your livestock graze on pasture, as well as pasture rotation.

What information is needed to support temporary confinement?

Livestock may be eligible for temporary confinement under certain conditions, such as severe weather or safety issues. Documentation must provide the date, animal or herd identifier, and the reason for confinement.

#Animal health records

Health records support your health care plans for animals per your OSP.

How should I document health records for animals?

One approach is to keep a record sheet for each individual animal or animal groupings with individual animal identifiers. Identifiers such as an ear tag or band match to records, allowing clear traceability of the animal through its life cycle.

What information do I need to keep for individual animal health records?

After adapting to meet your unique needs, an individual animal record offers a simple, single location to document birth or hatching records, source history, vaccinations, health care treatments, physical alterations or culling/mortality information.

When do I need to update an animal health care record?

Any time an animal receives health care, your records must include the animal, dose, reason, age, material, and date. You’ll need to support your records with documentation of the materials, typically receipts and labels.

#Feed records

The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) requires that organic livestock feed consist of certified organic agricultural products. Feed rations may also include allowed feed additives and supplements.

What records are required for a feed audit?

Your inspection will include an audit of at least one feed ration or a component of a ration fed to a specific group of animals during a specific timeframe. Records must demonstrate that the amount of feed consumed matches the amount that was available. The audit will examine harvest yield records for feed grown on-farm and/or receipts and weight tags for purchased feed.

What information do I need to keep for feed and supplement records?

You are required to keep records of what and how much feed and feed supplements your livestock consume. For ruminants, differentiate between grazing and non-grazing season feed plans in your preferred recordkeeping system — e.g., a journal, preformatted spreadsheet or a calendar — and include what was fed to your livestock, feed date, and quantity.

What information do I need to keep for feed harvest and storage records?

Harvest and storage records offer verification that you produced enough food for your livestock. Always track harvest yields for all feed crops. Measurements may be in units that make sense for the crop like the number of bins, bales or total weight.

Records should indicate how many acres (e.g., 100 bushels per acre) were harvested to achieve a total amount. Yields and the field of origin must be recorded in your calendar, harvest spreadsheet or directly on the storage container with the date. Be sure to organize and save weigh tags for review.

What information do I need to keep for feed purchase records?

You are required to maintain purchase records for all feed and feed supplements to ensure compliance. Documentation can include receipts, invoices, organic certificates and feed labels (or accompanying documents) with all brand and ingredient information.

What information do I need to keep for calculating dry matter for ruminants?

At least 30 percent of dry matter intake for ruminants must come from pasture grazing for ruminants during grazing season(s). Unless your animals receive 100 percent of their dry matter from pasture grazing, you’ll need to document your calculations for meeting the dry matter intake rule. These records must be supported by documentation of days grazing on pasture, the length of your grazing season, and pasture rotation.

How do I need to organize feed records?

Your feed records should reflect all activities supporting your livestock nutrition program, including harvesting feed, grazing livestock, purchases of concentrates, forages, feed additives/supplements, and your current ration. Organizing this information alongside your other production records maintains ease of access for inspection and verification.

#Livestock product processing records

Livestock product processing — on farm or contracted — records depend on your product type(s).

What if I use contracted facilities to produce my livestock products?

All off-site, contracted processing facilities such as slaughter or cut and wrap must be certified organic. Required records include current organic certificates, private label agreements (if using), invoices, and shipping documentation.

What if I produce my livestock products on-farm?

When performing on-farm processing, you will need to document sanitation, commingling and contamination prevention, materials, shipping and receiving.

What if I produce organic and non-organic livestock products?

If you have a split operation, you will need a distinct set of records for your organic livestock to demonstrate that they meet organic standards. You’ll also need to demonstrate how organic and non-organic livestock do not commingle.

#Feed supplements versus health care inputs

Certain products used can be considered feed supplements or health care inputs, depending on how they’re used in organic livestock production. Compliance requirements for feed supplements and health care inputs are different. Your intended use of a product will determine its review and if it can be approved.

What is considered a feed supplement?

Feed supplements are used as part of an animal’s diet to help meet their nutritional needs. Feed supplements must meet organic livestock feed requirements. All agricultural ingredients — including kelp — must be certified organic. Synthetic ingredients must be approved for use in livestock feed per the National List.

What is considered a health care input?

Health care inputs treat and/or prevent disease. Inputs are not subject to organic feed requirements, so they may include non-organic agricultural ingredients and kelp. However, all synthetic ingredients must be approved for use in livestock feed or healthcare per the National List.

How does OTCO determine if a product is a supplement or health care input?

Products added to the feed ration or fed on a regular basis are considered feed supplements. They provide a nutritional benefit and must comply with all livestock feed requirements.

Products provided periodically to treat a health concern or for disease prevention purposes, no matter how they are administered, may be reviewed against health care requirements. OTCO takes into account how you plan to use a product to determine compliance; select products may be marketed or used to meet either nutritional needs or provide health care benefits. In all situations, check with OTCO that a product is approved as a supplement or input prior to use.