Elements and Performance Criteria
- Manage animal health and welfare
- All work is undertaken in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to the principles of organic agriculture, occupational health and safety requirements and enterprise guidelines.
- Natural behaviours of animals and requirements of animal welfare codes of practice are considered in planning for organic livestock production.
- Genetic resistance to parasites is incorporated into breeding strategy.
- Livestock is monitored constantly for health and welfare and records are kept according to enterprise requirements.
- Animal health preventative strategies are developed, communicated to others working on farm and implemented.
- Use of prohibited/restricted substances for organic livestock is documented and treated animals are identified and quarantined.
- Animal transport is conducted humanely and in compliance with organic certification requirements.
- Livestock records required for organic certification are maintained.
- Develop and implement feed production and storage requirements
- Develop and implement grazing strategies to achieve biodiversity, recycling and sustainability
- Soil and plant health are optimised to provide a nutrient-dense and balanced diet for livestock.
- Pastures are assessed for diversity, health, vigour and ground cover.
- Infrastructure required for implementing rotational grazing strategies is identified and incorporated into property improvement program.
- Rotational grazing strategies are developed and implemented.
- Impact of grazing strategies on nutrient recycling and pasture diversity, persistence and vigour is evaluated.
- Strategies for controlling weeds in pastures are implemented.
- Research and source allowable inputs for organic livestock production
- Level of nutrients exported from farm is estimated.
- Soil-testing program, including observation of pasture species present, is implemented in order to monitor and maintain optimal pasture species and soil health.
- Soil nutrient levels are replenished through recycling, optimising nutrient availability in soil, and sourcing allowable inputs where necessary.
- Organic fertilisers and soil conditioners are applied to ensure a mineral-balanced and healthy soil.
- Certification protocols for sourcing essential fodder off-farm are followed.
- Fodder is sourced and fed to stock, minimising risk of weed spread and maintaining adequate records.