Dr. Nazish Rizwan Kirmani, PhD scholar
Division of Livestock Production and Management
Faculty of veterinary sciences and Animal Husbandry Shuhama
Sheri –e-Kashmir University of Agricultural sciences and Technology of Kashmir Srinagar (J&K), India
Abstract
Ever rising health and environment concerns regarding traditional livestock farming have led to new, environment friendly method, referred to as organic farming. Though it comes with many pros including production of antibiotic free animals and fewer burdens on resources, the sustainment of this system is in shadows owing to low productivity and less share in the market. This article aims at exploring the scope and potential of organic farming as a future of livestock farming.
Introduction:
Typical organic farms which integrated growing of food and feed crops along with raising livestock where first established in Great Britain, Europe and North America from 1920 – 1950. This system fulfilled all needs of a farmer; manure from livestock acted as fertilizer for crops and fodder and in turn fodder produced along with the feed crop residue was used for livestock feeding (NCAT, 2004). Until 1980 organic farming was growing slowly but as awareness regarding environmental condition grew need for production system which could be sustainable and environment friendly became a hot topic (Gwenaelle and Alberik, 2001). In June 1999, the Codex Alimentarius Commission recognized organic farming as holistic production management systems (for crops and livestock) ,emphasizing the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs and also adopted Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labeling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (Codex Alimentarius, 1999). Organic livestock farming focuses to promote animal health by establishing soil-plant, plant –animal and animal- soil relationship. It promotes building environment friendly atmosphere as it shuns the use of synthetic products like drugs, feed additives and genetic engineered breeds. Domesticated animals play important role in agricultural cycle as they help in recycling nutrients cycles by converting organic matter which helps in enhancing soil fertility, consume crop residues and agricultural by products, act as weed controlling agent as animals can be used to graze weeds on pastures or in crop fields, growing forages also help in crop rotation.
Key considerations for organic livestock production system:
Some key considerations in organic animal husbandry that producers and other stakeholders need to take into account are listed below:
• Origin of livestock
• Livestock Feed
• Housing
• Healthcare
• Waste management
Origin of livestock:
All livestock along with the products from these livestock that are sold, labelled or advertised as organic must be raised under continuous organic management from the last third of gestation or at hatching.
Livestock feed:
In organic systems animals have to be fed species-specific diet keeping nutrient requirement in consideration. Fodder should be organically grown i.e. without use of pesticides/fertilizer. Manure for the fodder should come for organically kept animals. Use of synthetic growth promoters, preservatives , urea, genetically engineered organisms or products, animal origin products or by products except milk and milk products ,fish ,other marine animals and products are not allowed. Supplementation should be derived from natural sources.
Housing:
Animal housing should not interfere with natural behavior of animal and should be designed in a way that it prevents injury and disease .It should be able to provide shelter, fresh air, sunlight, and free access to outdoors. Maintenance of sanitation, hygiene, biosecurity should be well planned. Animals should never be tied; however they can be confined for milking, medical treatments, or for controlled grazing.
Healthcare:
Producers must establish preventive healthcare practice which includes provision of nutritious feed/fodder, providing stress free environment and regular monitoring of physiological parameters should be followed. Uses of therapeutic veterinary drugs are permitted under special conditions under supervision of veterinarian. When veterinary medicine is used withdrawal period observed shall be double as that of normal. Animals also lose their organic status if they are treated three times or more with synthetic veterinary medicine or antibiotics within one year (National program for organic production, 2005). Vaccinations which are mandatory under law should be given, however use of drugs which are derived from genetically modified source are not permitted
Waste management:
Dung and urine collected from the farm should be utilized in such a way that it minimizes soil and water degradation, help in recycling of nutrients and should not add up pathogenic bacteria to water. Rates at which manure is applied should always be checked so that it does not add up to ground or surface water contamination.
Certification bodies:
The five main certifying bodies which monitor the standards for organic production and having worldwide acceptance are:-
1. EU regulation (1804/1999),
2. Organic Food Products Acts (OFPA) of USA, –
3. Draft Guidelines of Codex / WHO/ FAO, –
4. UK Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) –
5. International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) basic standards
In India Agricultural Processed Foods Export Development Authority (APEDA) is controlling body and has three certification agencies (ECOCERT, SKAL and IMO), for certifying organic farms in India and certification process is under National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP).
Certification process:
For registration of farm under certified agency producer first has to submit organic management plan. Plan must be submitted, detailing everything like origin of animals, fodder, feed, medicines and farm activities, etc. This is verified and inspected annually by certifying agency. A fee is to be paid by the farmer to the certification body for annual surveillance and for facilitating a mark which is acceptable in the market as symbol of quality.
Advantages:
• It aims at efficient use of local resources and recycling. It nourishes soil through crop rotation and use of animal manure. It also reduces pressure on environment as stocking density is low as compared to conventional system. This reduces number of farm animals per unit area (Kristensen and Halberg, 1997).
• Contrary to conventional farming systems, animals are not administered any drug or synthetic compound leading to production of safe and quality product.
Limitations:
• Low on production as compared to conventional farms.
• Lack of availability of organic feed.
• Traceability should be farmer friendly and cheap.
• Lack of awareness and need to develop domestic market.
• Complicated organic certification process.
• More labor intensive system.
Conclusion:
Intensification of livestock farming resulted in excess use of antibiotics, hormone’s and other inorganic products which led to antibiotic resistance and other health hazards. The ongoing shift of world population towards healthy lifestyle has led conscious people raise many concerns about the safety of products being consumed. This has made way towards adopting an environment friendly, sustainable and health sensitive alternative i.e Organic livestock farming. Organic farming has grown over the years and has a potential to deliver safe, healthy and nutritious products using locally available resources without having adverse impact on the environment. However this system struggles to flourish and sustain on a large scale, particularly in India due to low productivity, very high labor cost and under developed domestic market along with lack of awareness among masses.
References:
Codex Alimentarius, 1999. Guidelines for the production, processing, labeling and Marketing of OrganicProducedfoods,Commission,CAL/GL32.,http://www.codexalimentarius.org/standards/list-ofstandards/
Gwenaelle, L.G. and S. Alberik, 2001. Organic Farming: Guide to Community Rules.European Commission Directorate General for Agriculture. Office for official publications of the European Communities. Belgium. pp: 32. http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/ media/ migration/ farmingsectors/ organicfarming/ publications/ Orgfarmingguidetocommrules.pd
Kristensen,E.S., Halberg, N.,1997. A system approach for assessing sustainability in livestock farms. In: Sorensen, J.T.(Ed), Livestock Farming Systems. More than Food Production.EAAP, Publ. No. 89, pp. 238-246.
National Programme for Organic Production,2005.,http://apeda.gov.in/apedawebsite/organic/index.htm.
NCAT, 2004. Organic Livestock Workbook: A Guide to Sustainable and Allowed Practices. The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).,http://asi.ucdavis.edu/sarep/sfr/ organic/files-images/ livestockworkbook.pdf
