Organic Cattle Feed: Certified Rations for the Organic Farm

Organic Cattle Feed: Certified Feeding on the Organic Farm

Anyone farming to organic standards needs feed that is approved for organic livestock production. That applies to bought in single components just as much as to ready made mixes. Here you will find certified organic feed for dairy cows, finishing cattle and calves, from cereals through protein components to the meal type mix for the trough.

Protein and energy from organic production

Protein is often the scarcest building block of the ration on an organic farm. Sunflower cake and soya cake are what remains after oil pressing and deliver concentrated protein that combines well with your own forage. Organic lucerne pellets add crude fibre on top and help when the silage is low in structure. For energy supply there are organic oats and other organic cereals. Ready made mixes such as meal type dairy compound or calf compound take the job of balancing off your hands and are matched to the group of animals in question.

What counts in organic feeding

At the centre sits your own forage from pasture, hay and silage. Bought in feed tops up where protein or energy fall short. Make sure every purchased item is certified accordingly and that the documents are ready for inspection. The specific rules on origin and proportions are set by the relevant standards and your certification body, so a quick check before any bigger change is worthwhile. Store organic goods separately from conventional feed, and the separation of goods flows stays traceable at all times.

Frequently asked questions

What makes a feed an organic feed?
It comes from certified organic production and is approved for organic livestock. The certification is documented and checked by the inspection body.

Which protein sources suit an organic ration?
Sunflower cake, soya cake and lucerne pellets are widely used. They top up your own forage whenever protein runs short.

Do I have to store organic feed separately?
Yes, a clear separation from conventional goods is standard practice and makes record keeping for your inspection body far easier.