Organic cattle must be fed and managed organically for their entire lives in order to be marketed as organic. In fact, a calf’s mother must be managed organically for the last third of the gestational period in order for the calf to be sold as organic beef. The only animals that may be converted from non-organic to organic are dairy cattle, breeding stock, and animals that render non-edible products. According to organic standards, organic cattle farms cannot employ the use of synthetic antibiotics, animal by-products, or growth stimulants on their herds. The animals must not be fed genetically-modified feed, and cannot have their genes altered in any way. The cattle are provided with daily exposure to sunlight, fresh air, and fresh water.

Living Conditions
Both organic and non-organic livestock require a well-balanced and high-quality diet. Cows that are to be slaughtered for organic beef must receive feed that is 100% organic. Depending on the discretion of the organic-certifying body, the use of trace elements, certain vitamins, and pure amino acids may be used in organic beef production. The farmers should allow their livestock maximum use of grazing and ideally, all the food consumed by the organic herd should come from the farm itself.

Breeding
Livestock that is used in organic production are required to be born and raised under organic management. Organic cattle farmers may purchase breeding livestock from a non-organic facility; however, the total cannot exceed 10% of the total number of breeding livestock. Those cattle that come from a non-organic environment are not permitted to be marketed as organic, and cannot be sold as organic breeding stock unless they are held and managed organically for more than one year.

Organic Herd Health
The use of veterinary drugs and vaccinations in organic cattle farming is prohibited. If a member of the herd contracts a communicable disease that threatens the herd, the use of antibiotics to treat the ailing cow is permitted. If a particular animal must be treated with antibiotics, its meat can still be marketed as organic beef provided it is subjected to double the permitted federal withdrawal period allowed for treatment.