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Organic Beef - The Sixth Niche Market for Miniature Cattle
By Professor Richard Gradwohl

FROM THE MINIATURE CATTLE RESEARCH FACILITY AT HAPPY MOUNTAIN^® MINIATURE CATTLE FARM COVINGTON, WASHINGTON U.S.A.

A DIVISION OF BEEF BREEDERS FOR THE FUTURE CORPORATION

     Organic products are a real growth industry. Consumers demand for organic foods is growing at a rate of 20 to 24 % per year according to the Organic Trade Association. Health conscience Americans want better purer foods and the consensus is that certified organically grown foods meet their requirements.

     What are organically grown products and of specific interest to the Miniature Cattle industry, how do you produce organically grown beef? Do miniature cattle have any advantages in the organic beef market? Are there better profits to be made here?

     To answer the first question the FSIS (Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture) has specific requirements for labeling a product organic. As of 1-14-99 the following are the new rules: "Meat and poultry products will be labeled "certified organic by (name of the certifying entity)" if processors seek prior label approval from USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the claim meets certain criteria. Specifically, to use the claim in labeling, processors will need to show that products have been certified as organic by an authority or entity that certifies products as "organically" produced. That entity must have standards that define "organically produced" and a system for ensuring that products it certifies meet those standards. There are 33 private and 11 state organic certification entities, as well as a number of smaller entities that provide self-certification.

     So to be certified as organic you must apply to an approved certifying agency and be approved. Such approval is dependent on compliance with the agencies organic standards. Most agencies require among other things animals to have access to organic pasture or range when weather conditions are appropriate. All foods must be organically grown including hay and grain and the use of hormones or antibiotics is strictly prohibited. To put it very simply the animal can only be exposed to certified organically grown products and foods. Any exceptions would have to be with the approval of the certifying agency. You also need to be prepared to keep detailed records on purchases of organic products together with a copy of the producers certificate of organic production. Your farm will need to be inspected and occasionally reinspected to make sure you are in compliance. You will also need to keep records of all sales of your organic products.

     Do miniature cattle have any advantage in the organic market? I believe they do. Organic hay and grain are quite a bit more expensive than standard hay and grain, particularly grain. Because miniature cattle are more feed efficient the higher cost of the feed in an organic program is economically justified. You're paying more for the feed but you're getting more for it. With larger cattle the opposite is true. The higher feed costs are not justified because it takes more feed to get the same approximate results.

     The bottom line is of course profit. We are currently selling organically grown beef at $2.79 per pound hanging weight plus cutting and wrapping. We sell our beef right off the farm. The larger animals gobble up the high cost feed so fast that even at these prices profitability is questionable. Miniature cattle have some real advantages in the organic market. It is my opinion that the best beef market for miniature cattle is the organic niche.

Certification #: 856 Washington State Department of Agriculture

© 1999 RG