Organic all natural livestock?

[MutzFarm]

Are "organic" livestock vaccinated for diseases? Many vaccines are made by GMO's. We only raise/sell about 40 feeder calves per year. About 3 years ago we had a bad outbreak of pinkeye (a couple of calves with one ulcerated eye and one calf ended up blind in both eyes). That is the last time we have used antibiotics.

What do organic producers do when they have an animal with a serious but treatable bacterial disease? Treat it with antibiotics, or slaughter it?

Vaccines are GMO? First I heard that.

If we vaccinate something then we do not sell to an individual. It will go from our little wannbe farm to the local sale barn like all the BIG ranchers do with all their vaccinated livestock.

 

[KYErik]

I didn't know whether organic animals were vaccinated and if so, is there a special list of "approved" vaccines. Some vaccines are produced in the old more traditional way, some are not:

The human hepatitis B vaccine is made by genetically modified yeast cells. Human HPV (cervical cancer) vaccine, canine distemper, one type of feline leukemia vaccine and animal rabies vaccine are also classified as "recombinant" and are the results of genetic modification. There is also a Lyme disease vaccine for horses that is the result of genetic modification. I'm not sure how many currently used cattle vaccines are the result of genetic modification.

Personally, I am a science guy so I am fine with all of the GMO/DNA modification (with proper regulations). I do believe in natural selection/evolution so I know its important to only use antibiotics when needed,

 

[Groo]

 

[Groo]

There are definitely some things I will pay more for the Organic versions of; celery is a big one. Multiple times I have had my lips go numb from the pesticides on regular celery.

 

[MutzFarm]

There are definitely some things I will pay more for the Organic versions of; celery is a big one. Multiple times I have had my lips go numb from the pesticides on regular celery.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Mutzfarm, what do you do about flies on you're cattle?, back scrubber, oiler, spray? Do you worm them? Ivomec?

 

[MutzFarm]

Mutzfarm, what do you do about flies on you're cattle?, back scrubber, oiler, spray? Do you worm them? Ivomec?

Why do you ask?

Depends on how bad it is. Right now it is a little out of hand so we did just spray them. If we can help it we will just put Diatomaceous Earth on them. I am condsidering a fly barrel.

We will put out an occasional wormer block by safe guard if we think it is necessary. Also we will put the pour on wormer if we think something is out of hand.

I have considered an oiler before. It is usually the strong will survive around here.

We try not to do much to them because we pick one and slaughter it for ourselves and have a couple customers do the same. With this said we try to keep them as natural as possible. Hard when you live in almost constant drought area.

 

[aczlan]

Chickens- it is in the daily feed mix, unless you go looking to buy it without the antibiotic.

Depends on the feed, if you look at someone growing chickens commercially, they probably mix their own feed, so they choose what goes into it... Antibiotics are not cheap, so they are unlikly to use them unless they are needed.
Also, on antibiotics, there is generally a "holdoff" period where you cannot sell the milk or butcher an animal after they get antibiotics to make sure they get out of the animal's system.

Aaron Z

 

[aczlan]

People forget that organically raised produce isn't just a good idea to reduce the poisons you take in (small, but measurable, amounts of toxins from pesticides & herbicides can be found in fruits & vegetables), but it's even more important for the people who are working in the orchards & fields who otherwise are exposed to that stuff over and over.

Personally, I'm fine with less-than-perfect looking foods and the occasional bug knowing that I'm not contributing to farm workers' early demise from such poisons - it's not all about me.

Just so long as you understand that they are still spraying the crop, it is often just sprayed with a different chemical that is "certified organic" by the manufacturer...

Aaron Z

 

[M5farms]

Depends on the feed, if you look at someone growing chickens commercially, they probably mix their own feed, so they choose what goes into it... Antibiotics are not cheap, so they are unlikly to use them unless they are needed.
Also, on antibiotics, there is generally a "holdoff" period where you cannot sell the milk or butcher an animal after they get antibiotics to make sure they get out of the animal's system.

Aaron Z

but the internet told them Is was bad and everyone did it the same way so it must be true.......