I am an organic livestock producer, raising animals for meat production, and have just purchased non-organic bred females to expand my herd. How do I transition them into the herd, and when will they be considered certified organic?

Animals purchased for breeding should be organic; however, if suitable organic livestock is not available, and non-organic breeding stock are purchased in order to expand the existing organic herd, the animals must be non-gestating when brought onto the organic operation. They must be managed organically and will be considered “organic” for breeding purposes only (i.e. calves born to non-organic breeding animals can be certified organic).  A non-organic animal can never transition to organic status for organic meat production.