Being an agricultural science student, i bring to you today another aspect of agriculture which is organic agriculture. First let me begin with the definition of Agriculture;
Agriculture
This can be defined as the production of crops and animals for man’s consumption; his nutrition need and other benefits this might bring to him.
There are two types of agriculture which are inorganic and organic agriculture.
Inorganic agriculture
This type of agriculture involves the use of synthesized materials which have been extracted from plants or animals and have been treated with chemicals. This are materials for plant and animal production and usually not environmental friendly as they can cause a lot of detrimental effects to the surroundings.
Organic agriculture
This is a reverse case for inorganic agriculture. It is an agricultural practice that largely excludes the use of synthesized materials which have been treated with chemials. It is an ecological production system that promotes and embraces biodiversity and biological recycling.
Reasons for organic agriculture is based on the following principles which are-
a) Principle of health: organic agriculture must be able to sustain and enhance the health of animals, plants and human.
b) Principle of ecology: organic agriculture should be based on living ecological system and must be able to sustain the environment.
c) Principle of fairness.
d) Principle of care.
Organic livestock husbandry
Organic livestock husbandry is based on the harmonious relationship between land, plants and livestock, respect for the physiology and behavioral needs of livestock and the feeding of good quality organically grown feed stuffs.
The owner of an organic based agriculture system should ensure that:
• The environment, the facilities, stocking density and flock/herd size provides for the behavioral needs of the animals.
• Housing condition requirement are met in order to ensure easy movement of animals.
• Landless animal husbandry systems are prohibited.
• The maximum hours of artificial light used to prolong natural day length shall not exceed a maximum that respects the natural behavior and general health of the animals.
Conversion period: This is the period between which organic management and the certification of animals as organic commences. It is usually called LABELLING.
Conversion: It is usually required to change the animal husbandry system from conventional to organic production to develop natural behavior, immunity and metabolic functions. It requires that land and animals has to meet appropriate established conversion requirement. Land and animals may be converted simultaneously subject to the requirements for all other land and animal conversion periods.
Animal’s sources/origin: Organic animals are born and raised on organic holdings. They should be raised organically from birth. Although when organic livestock is not available, conventional animals may be brought in according to the following age limits:
a. 2days old chicken for meat production.
b. 18weeks old hens for egg production.
c. 2weeks for any other poultry.
d. Piglets up to 6weeks and after weaning.
e. Daily calves up to 4weeks old that have received colostrum and are fed a diet consisting full milk.
Also breeding stock may be brought in from conventional farm to a yearly maximum of 10% of the adult animals of the same species on the farm. Allow for exception of more than 10% shall be limited to:
a) Unforeseen severe natural or man-made events:
b) Establishment of a new type of animal production on the farm.
c) Holding with less than 10 animals.
d) Considerable enlargement of the farm.
Production conversion period for meat, dairy and eggs are 12months, 90days and 42days respectively.
Breed and breeding: the goals of breeding should be such that it encourages and maintain the good health and welfare of the animals. Breeding systems should be based on breeds that are adapted to local conditions and can reproduce successfully under natural conditions. Embryo transfer techniques and hormones to induce ovulation and birth are usually prohibited in organic livestock husbandry.
Mutilations
During selection, breeds and species that do not require mutilation should be selected as mutilations are prohibited. The following exceptions for mutilation is done when suffering is minimized and anesthetic are used where appropriate: castration, tail docking, de-horning, ringing, mulesing.
Animal nutrition
Organic animals should be fed from organic forage and feed of good quality. A balanced diet should be offered to meet the nutritional needs of the animals to enable them exhibit their natural feeding and digestive behavior. Ruminants should not be fed diet that entirely consists of silage and concentrates. Therefore there should be a limit in the feeding of non-organic feed. Non-organic feed is given only if there is inadequate organic feed and feed should not exceed 10% dry matter per ruminant and 15% dry matter per non-ruminant. The following substances should be prohibited in their diet:
a. Farm animal by-products.
b. Preservatives except when used as a processing aid.
c. Amino-acid isolates.
d. Urea and other synthetic nitrogen compounds.
e. Artificial coloring agents.
Also organic animals may be fed vitamins, trace elements and supplements from natural sources and should have access to roughage (ruminants). Fodder preservatives such as by-products of food industry, bacteria, fungi and enzymes may be used.
Veterinary medicine:
In organic livestock husbandry, all practical measures should be taken to ensure the health and well-being of all the animals through preventive animal husbandry practices. When an animal becomes sick or injured, that animal should be separated from the rest and treated promptly and adequately. Chemical veterinary drugs or antibiotics should be used only if
a) Preventive and alternative practices are not effective.
b) They are used under the supervision of a veterinarian
c) Withholding periods should not be less than double of that required by legislation.
Also vaccinations are allowed when: - legally required, disease is known and is not genetically engineered.
Transport and slaughter:
Organic animals should be handled carefully and gently during transport for slaughter and be provided with conditions during transport and slaughtering that reduces and minimizes adverse effects of stress, loading and unloading, quality and suitability of mode of transport and handling equipment. Each animal should be stunned before being bled to death and the equipment used for stunning should be in good working condition. Slaughter house journey must not exceed 8hrs but when there is no certified organic slaughter house within 8 hrs of travel time, the animal can be transported for a period in excess. Recommendation includes that local and mobile slaughter houses can be used when available.