Organic Livestock Handbook: a Canadian Organic Growers Practical Skills Handbook

Summary

Coordinator: Kristine Swaren, Canadian Organic Growers, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Stakeholders: Organic, transitioning, and conventional livestock producers

COG published the original Organic Livestock Handbook in 2000 (with OFRF funding) and this very popular book needs a complete overhaul for at least three reasons:

  1. In the 10 years since publication, organic livestock production practices in Canada have evolved considerably and there are now excellent examples of successful certified-organic pasture-based livestock systems that did not exist earlier.
  2. The regulatory context for organic production in Canada has changed dramatically in 10 years. Our standards have been completely rewritten and the greatest change has been in the livestock section.
  3. More and more people are interested in getting into livestock production.

Our authors are intimately involved with standards development and the organic sector. Anne Macey is an experienced organic livestock farmer, current chair of the Organic Livestock Working Group of the Organic Standards Committee and a member of the Animal Welfare Task Force. Anne is the author of COG’s highly acclaimed Organic Livestock Handbook (2000). Laura Telford has been national director of Canadian Organic Growers for 7 years. Her science background and extensive writing experience complement Anne’s technical knowledge of livestock production.

The book will include farm profiles from all areas of the country and will focus on farms that successfully demonstrate leading-edge pasture management systems. The book will be peer reviewed by a small advisory committee from the key agricultural regions of the country. Canadian Organic Growers (COG) is a charitable organization whose mandate includes the publication of handbooks about organic growing methods, targeted at both organic and transitioning producers. Production and distribution will be handled by our channels established from COG’s previous successful publications, as well as new marketing channels through livestock producers associations. Growers across the country can use the information in this book in start-up, transition, expansion and improvement of their organic growing techniques.