How to Raise Lowline Organic Beef
Lowline beef cattle originated in Australia under controlled conditions. They are the smallest recognized breed of purebred cattle today. The lowline breeds were created from a special breeding program that began in 1974 from a controlled experiment in raising Angus cattle.
The lowline breed is an excellent choice for the small farmer or rancher due to the fact that you can raise 10 head of lowline cattle in the same area it would take to raise six head of a standard breed such as Angus or Hereford. Lowline cattle growers have developed an exclusive premium marketing line known as "Lowline Boutique Beef".
Developing lowline in an organic program of breeding and raising will increase marketing value.
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Instructions
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Raising organic lowline beef
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Contact your local U.S. Department of Agriculture office to find out who can certify your proposed operation as organic. Once your facilities are approved, you are ready to populate your acreage with livestock.
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Buy breeding stock that is certified organic. By starting your herd with stock that is already certified organic, you will be ahead when it comes to having your product certified as organic. To qualify, the animals must have never received any hormones or been fed anything containing pesticide or herbicide. If your base stock is not certified, it will be two generations before you can qualify as organic.
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Feed your livestock only certified organic grains and hay. Have the livestock free-ranging on pasture as much as possible. As long as no pesticides or herbicides have been used on your rangeland, your animals will prove healthier than if kept in corrals, where all fodder must be pre-certified.
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Monitor the health of your herd closely. To maintain your certified organic classification, the animals cannot be given any foreign substance or chemicals. Your veterinarian and the USDA can provide you with alternatives to treating sick animals so you do not risk your certified classification. If you have to treat an organic animal with antibiotics, that animal can no longer be certified as organic.
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Tips & Warnings
Document everything concerning your herd. Keep records on feed and animal purchases for certification inspections.
