National Organic Standards Board

Livestock Committee

Proposed Recommendation

Animal Welfare

March 1, 2011 

Introduction

Animal welfare is a basic principle of organic production. The Livestock Committee of the 

NOSB considers that a focus on animal welfare warrants appropriate and effective regulation. 

It is important to consider the social and ethical implications as well as scientific research with 

regard to animal welfare. This proposal involves the following sections: 

Language changes to existing sections: 

 § 205.2: Terms defined 

 § 205.238: Livestock health care practice standard 

 § 205.239: Livestock living conditions 

This proposal is intended to refine—not replace—the November 2009 NOSB Animal Welfare 

Recommendation. The combination of the 2009 and this recommendation aim to more clearly 

identify the parameters that define animal welfare on certified organic operations. As requested 

by the National Organic Program, it is our intention to create a comprehensive animal welfare 

program that benefits both livestock and farmers. Except for the specific sections whose 

proposed changes or addition is detailed in this recommendation, the November 2009 

recommendation is still current. 

Background

At the May 2009 NOSB meeting, the Livestock Committee presented a Discussion Document 

on Animal Health and Living Conditions. This document proposed that numerical scoring be 

used to assess body condition, lameness, coat/feather conditions and cleanliness. Please 

note that, as described in the discussion section, these assessment measures will be outlined 

in species-specific Guidance Documents that will be presented at the fall 2011 NOSB meeting. 

At the November 2009 NOSB meeting, the NOSB approved an Animal Welfare 

recommendation that proposed changes to §205.238 Livestock health care practice 

standard and §205.239 Livestock living conditions (including the separation into 

mammalian and avian sections) to give more detail to requirements to ensure animal welfare. 

This 2009 recommendation also noted the need for the establishment of indoor and outdoor 

space provision minimums. 

At the fall 2010 NOSB meeting, the Livestock Committee presented Discussion Documents on 

Stocking Density and Handling, Transport and Slaughter, receiving public comment on both 

documents. This recommendation aims to refine the 2009 recommendation and consolidate it 

with the Livestock Committee’s current recommendations on stocking density and humane 

handling, transport and slaughter. In completing the current proposal, the Livestock 
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Committee considered public comment and existing animal welfare standards, reviewed 

studies presented on animal welfare, and considered existing legislation from other countries. 

Relevant Areas in the Rule

The areas of the Rule currently addressing animal welfare include §205.237 Livestock 

feed, §205.238 Livestock health care practice standard, §205.239 Livestock living 

conditions, and §205.240 Pasture practice standard. This recommendation includes 

and builds upon changes recommended by the NOSB in November of 2009.

Discussion 

Terms defined. The Livestock Committee has proposed a number of additions to § 205.2: 

Terms defined. Most of these are found in § 205.238 (a) (5) Livestock Health Care Practice 

Standard and include various physical alterations, outdoor access, soil, and willful acts of 

abuse. Since they cause unnecessary pain and distress, often resulting in chronic pain and 

frustration for the animal, most physical alterations are not allowed. The outdoor access 

definition seeks to provide clarification for farmers and certifiers. It is our intention that livestock 

have contact with the soil and exposure to the sky overhead. Therefore, structures with floors 

and solid roofs overhead, such as enclosures typically described as “porches”, would not be 

included in outdoor access calculations. To avoid mistreatment on the farm, during transport, 

or at the slaughter plant, specific prohibited practices are described within the willful acts of 

abuse definition. 

Indoor stocking density. The stocking density table lists livestock by species and weight. All 

livestock must be provided with bedding to maintain comfort and cleanliness whether they are 

housed with or without a roof. The indoor bedded space allowance provided in this 

recommendation is to be considered a minimum for housed animals. All animals must be 

provided with a clean, dry place to lie down. The less space provided per animal, the more 

labor-intensive it may be to keep them clean and in good health. Bedding keeps animals warm, 

clean, and dry and also protects animals from developing lesions due to abrasion on rough 

surfaces. Animals must be managed in a manner that lameness does not become a common 

or routine occurrence. If routine hoof trimming due to lameness is required, diet or 

management adjustments will be necessary. 

Outdoor stocking density. Outdoor access is important for all livestock to enhance muscle tone 

and relieve boredom. Outdoor runs for cattle are to be considered a minimum during the nongrazing season when weather allows animals to leave the indoor bedded area. Cattle pastured 

during the non-grazing season may not require an indoor bedded area. Since piglets and 

chicks must be protected from freezing weather, outdoor runs are not necessary. Calves, 

lambs, kids, and other young animals require protection from frostbite. 

Market considerations. Increasingly, consumers are demanding that livestock be treated 

humanely and with respect. This market trend has led to several different product labels with 

animal welfare certification; this standard details specific quantitative requirements for animal 
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stocking rates, handling, transit, and slaughter. This recommendation intends to match the 

numbers currently used by the various animal welfare certification labels. Ultimately, the 

Livestock Committee would like the organic seal to be the gold standard, indicating the most 

nutritious food produced in the safest and most humane manner. 

Outcome-based standards. At the fall 2011 NOSB meeting, the Livestock Committee intends 

to present basic outcome-based scorecards and guidance documents for each species to 

address hygiene, locomotion, body condition, lesions and injury. The Committee will work with 

the organic community to develop a system that is reasonable, accurate, and enforceable. 

These guidance documents are intended to both provide producers with information on best 

management practices for humane animal care and to provide inspectors with assessment 

tools and the means to consistently apply them. 

Bison. Bison are not domesticated animals and therefore indoor bedded space would be an 

added stressor. Bison should not be confined indoors except for medical treatment. 

Poultry. Poultry houses and outdoor areas must be managed in a manner that allows birds to 

perform natural behaviors which minimize stress and aggressive acts. A minimum of two 

square feet of outdoor space is required to protect the soil and to minimize parasite loads via 

paddock rotation. It is the intent of the livestock committee that outdoor areas provide birds 

with access to the soil. Porches or other areas with floors and solid roofs would count toward 

indoor space. Poultry mortality lessens when perches are provided because they encourage 

natural behaviors, strengthen bones via exercise, allow submissive birds to escape and reduce 

aggression. Perches allow for maximum use of vertical space within the house. Mobile poultry 

units require the same amount of indoor space per bird but allow the house to be moved so 

birds always have access to fresh vegetation. 

Recommendation 

The language shown in the following pages is recommended for rulemaking. 

§ 205.2 Terms defined. 

Caponization. Castration of chickens, turkeys, pheasants, etc. 

De-snooding. The removal of the turkey snood. 

Toe clipping. The removal of the two inside toes. 

Dubbing. The removal of combs and wattles. 

Beak tipping. The removal of the curved tip of the beak. 

Cattle wattles. Created for ownership identification, wattles are made by surgically 

separating both layers of skin from the connective tissue for 2 to 4 inches on the dewlap, 

neck or shoulder. 
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Access to the outdoors. See Outdoor access. 

Outdoor access. Animals have contact with soil and the sky overhead and without a solid 

roof or walls. Bedding and fencing that does not block sunlight may be used as necessary. 

Soil. The outermost layer of the earth comprised of minerals, water, air, and organic matter, 

an abundance of animal life, fungi, and bacteria in which plants grow roots. 

Willful acts of abuse. Includes but not limited to dragging non-ambulatory, conscious 

animals; intentionally applying prods to sensitive animal parts, e.g., anus, ears, eyes, or 

reproductive parts; malicious driving of livestock on top of one another with or without direct 

contact with motorized equipment; loading of non-ambulatory animals for transport is 

excluded; beating or hitting live animals; live animals frozen to trailer floors or sides; lifting 

an animal by the wool or throwing the animal; and slamming gates on animals. 

Livestock slip. A knee or hock touching the floor. 

Livestock fall. The body touching the floor. 

§ 205.238 Livestock health care practice standard. 

(a) The producer must establish, maintain and describe in the organic system plan 

practices or procedures designed to improve health care of the livestock operation, 

including: 

(6) Physical alterations, absolutely necessary to improve the health, welfare or hygiene 

of animals; identify animals; or provide increased safety to farm personnel. Physical 

alterations must be performed at the youngest possible age by competent persons in 

a manner that minimizes pain and stress and shall be recorded in individual (or 

flock) animal health records with dates, reason needed, and methods used. The 

following practices are prohibited: 

(i) Beak removal, castration, dubbing and detoeing of birds. 

(ii) Tail docking of pigs and cattle, except when necessary for treatment of injury. 

(iii) Wattling cattle . 

(iv) Face branding cattle. 

(v) Tail docking of sheep shorter than the caudal fold. 

(vi) Mulesing of sheep. 

§ 205.239 Livestock living conditions. (Mammal section) 

(a) The producer of an organic livestock operation must establish and maintain year-round 

livestock living conditions which accommodate the health and natural behavior of 

animals, including: 

(1) Year-round access for all animals to the outdoors, shade, shelter, exercise areas, 

fresh air, clean water for drinking, and direct sunlight, suitable to the species, its 
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stage of life, the climate, and the environment: Except, that, animals may be 

temporarily denied access to the outdoors in accordance with §§ 205.239(b) and (c). 

If animals are temporarily denied access to the outdoors, the indoor space provided 

shall meet the minimum indoor space requirements of the chart at the end of this 

document. Space is calculated by floor space on the inside of the animal’s living 

space. Yards, feeding pads, and feedlots may be used to provide ruminants with 

access to the outdoors during the non-grazing season and supplemental feeding 

during the grazing season, but shall be large enough to allow all ruminant livestock 

occupying these spaces to feed simultaneously without crowding and without 

competition for food. Continuous total confinement of any animal indoors, in yards, 

on feeding pads, and feedlots is prohibited. If yards, feeding pads, and feedlots are 

used, the outdoor space provided shall meet the minimum outdoor space 

requirements of the chart at the end of this section. All areas contributing to outdoor 

access must allow contact with the soil during the grazing season. 

(2) For all ruminants, management on pasture and daily grazing throughout the grazing 

season(s) to meet the requirements of § 205.237, except as provided for in 

paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of this section. 

(3) Appropriate clean, dry bedding, sufficient to keep animals reasonably clean, 

comfortable and free from lesions. When roughages are used as bedding, they shall 

have been organically produced in accordance with this part by an operation 

certified under this part, except as provided in § 205.236(a)(2)(i), and, if applicable, 

organically handled by certified organic operations. 

 (6) Calves may be housed in individual pens under the following conditions: 

(i) Until weaning, providing that they have enough room to turn around, lie down, 

stretch out when lying down, get up, rest and groom themselves; individual calf 

pens shall be designed and located so that each calf can see, smell and hear 

other calves present on the farm. 

(ii) Calves shall be group-housed after weaning during the non-grazing season, and 

on pasture after six months of age during the grazing season. 

(iii) Calves over six months of age shall have access to the outdoors at all times, 

except as allowed under § 205.239(c). 

§ 205.239 Livestock living conditions. (Avian section) 

(d) The operator of an organic poultry operation shall establish and maintain poultry living 

conditions that accommodate health and natural behavior: 

(1) Access to: 

(iv) the outdoors, at the rate of 2 square feet per bird. Enclosed spaces that have 

solid roofs overhead, such as those typically described as “porches”, do not 
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meet the definition of outdoor access and cannot be included in the calculation 

of outdoor access. Pullets will be provided outdoor access at 12 weeks. Broilers 

will be provided outside access from 4 weeks of age providing they are fully 

feathered and weather permits. Once layers are accustomed to going outdoors, 

a brief confinement period to allow for nest box training is permitted. Direct 

access to outdoor areas will be provided when temperatures are above 50oF. 

(e) Suitable Flooring 

(1) Mesh or slatted flooring under drinking areas to provide drainage; 

(2) Houses with slatted floors must have 30% minimum of solid floor area available with 

sufficient litter available for dust baths; 

(3) Litter must be provided and maintained in a dry manner. 

(f) Birds must have sufficient exit areas, appropriately distributed around the building, to 

ensure that all birds have ready access to the outdoors. Exit areas must allow the 

passage of more than one bird at a time. 

(g) Complete clean out of a poultry house is required if there have been adverse health 

issues with the previous flock; otherwise litter should be refurbished between flocks to 

maintain a sanitary environment. 

(h) Space Allowance. Poultry housing must be sufficiently spacious to allow all birds to 

move freely, stretch their wings and engage in natural behaviors. Perching areas and 

nest boxes may not be used in the calculation of floor space. The following are 

required: 

(1) Birds in mobile poultry units are subject to the same minimum space requirement as 

housed birds. 

(2) Minimum total door opening length is 5 feet per 1,000 laying hens. Minimum door 

opening height is fourteen inches. 
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Mammalian Stocking Rate Charts 

Livestock Indoor Bedded Space Outdoor Runs and Pens 

Bison weight (pounds) Square feet / animal Square feet /animal 

Up to 220 NA 70.0 

220-440 NA 120.0 

440-770 NA 190.0 

Over 770 NA 400 .0 

Beef cattle weight 

(pounds)

 

Up to 220 15.0 10.0 

220-440 25.0 20.0 

440-770 40.0 30.0 

770-1100 50.0 40.0 

over 1100 10.0 per 220 pounds 8.0 per 220 pounds 

Dairy cattle weight 

(pounds)

 

Up to 220 15.0 10.0 

220-440 25.0 20.0 

440-770 40.0 30.0 

770-1100 50.0 40.0 

over 1100 10.0 per 220 pounds 8.0 per 220 pounds 
Animal Welfare Recommendation March 1, 2011

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Mammalian Stocking Rate Charts (continued) 

Livestock Indoor Bedded Space Outdoor Runs and Pens 

Sheep and goats (pounds) Square feet / animal Square feet /animal 

Adults up to 225 20.0 30.0 

Adults over 225 25.0 40.0 

Nursing lamb or kid 4.0 20.0 

Weaned kid or lamb 10.0 30.0 

Swine 

Sow and piglets 48.0 40.0 

Sows 30.0 30.0 

Boars 64.0 85.0 

Growing pigs (pounds) 

Up to 24 1.0 0.5 

24—47 2.0 1.0 

47—109 3.0 1.5 

109—157 4.0 2.0 

157—225 5.0 2.5 

225—255 6.0 3.0 

Rabbits 

Adult rabbits 3.0 20.0 

Pregnant does 5.0 20.0 

Doe and litter 8.0 20.0 

Young rabbits 5-12 weeks 1.0 N/A 
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Avian Stocking Rate Charts 

Livestock Indoor Bedded Space Outdoor Runs and Pens 

Chickens Square feet / animal Square feet /animal 

Laying hens and breeders With perch space for 20% of 

birds: 1.5 

With 6 inches perch space 

per bird: 1.2 

2.0 

Pullets With 3 inches perch space 

per bird: 1.0 

1.0 

Broilers 1.0 1.0 

Other poultry 

Turkeys and Geese—

breeding, laying, or meat 

birds (pounds) 

1.0 per 7.5 lbs. 1.0 per 7.5 lbs. 

Ducks-meat 1.0 3.0 

Ducks-laying hen 2.5 6.0 

Ducks—breeder 1.5 6.0 

Mobile poultry units Square feet per bird in 

mobile unit 

Maximum number of birds 

per acre 

Laying hens and breeders 1.5 800 

Broilers 1.0 1,000 

Turkeys 1.0 per 7.5 pounds 540 

Geese 1.0 per 7.5 pounds 540 

Reserved for additional 

species 

 

Committee Vote 

Motion: Approve the animal welfare proposal with discussed changes. 

Motion by: CB Second: CW 

Yes: 5 No: 0 Absent: 0 Abstain: 0 Recuse: 0