New Certification Options for 2019: Grass-Fed Meat Certification and Grass-Fed Dairy Certification
MOSA is proud to announce two new optional certification services for 2019 - Grass-Fed Meat and Grass-Fed Dairy Certification for ruminant livestock producers. These new Grass-Fed Meat and Dairy standards, which were created in a joint effort by the certification community and Organic Valley, and will be overseen by Organic Plus Trust, are in the last stages of implementation and will be available for the 2019 season through MOSA. What is Grass-Fed Certification? It is a verification service that ensures that dairy and/or meat products are produced without any grain inputs, including supplements. Feed must be forage-based only - no grains are allowed. Standards and policies will be available in early 2019. Who needs Grass-Fed Certification? Any certified organic producer with a market that requires grass-fed certification, or wants to strengthen their grass-fed claims to their buyers. You will be able to make the “Certified Grass-Fed” claim on your products, you will receive a unique Grass-Fed Certificate, and for a fee, you may use the Grass-Fed Program Seal on your labeled products.
What are the standards for Grass-Fed Certification?
(NOTE: This is a brief synopsis of the draft standards. The final, complete version of the full standards for Grass-Fed Meat and for Grass-Fed Dairy will be available soon)
- Eligibility--Any certified organic ruminant meat animal production operation or certified organic ruminant handling operation, is eligible to apply for certification under this Standard. Operations not previously certified as organic may simultaneously seek certification under this Standard and the National Organic Program.
- Graze all animals throughout the entire grazing season, which shall be not less than 150 days per calendar year. Due to weather, season, and/or climate the grazing season may or may not be continuous; and
- Provide not less than 60 percent of each animal’s dry matter intake (“DMI”) from grazing, averaged throughout the grazing season.
- A weaned animal’s diet shall consist solely of allowed and restricted feedstuffs:
- Grazed forages comprised of annual and perennial grasses, legumes, forbs, brassicas, and browse; and
- Grazed vegetative-stage cereal grain plants (corn in a pre-tassel stage, soybeans prior to bloom; small and cereal grains at pre-boot stage); and
- Harvested forages and harvested vegetative-stage cereal grain crops (corn in a pre-tassel stage, soybeans prior to bloom; small and cereal grains prior to boot stage).
- Allowed but Restricted Grain-Free Feedstuffs
- A weaned animal’s diet may be supplemented when necessary to maintain nutritional stability and optimal rumen welfare with the following plant-based feedstuffs,
- Stored forage in cube or pellet form with a daily limit of not more than .5% of an animal’s body weight; and
- Certified organic kelp, beet and citrus pulp, certified organic sugar cane in liquid molasses and dry form provided it is strictly limited to supplemental amounts as set forth in this Program’s Policy Manual; and
- Forage grown in fodder sprout systems, provided consumption is limited to 1.75% of an animal’s body weight and not more than 20 lbs. per day, and removes sprout roots prior to feeding and is fed solely during the non-grazing season.
- Allowed but Restricted Grain-Free Mineral and Vitamin Nutrients
- A weaned animal’s diet may be supplemented by nutrient vitamins and mineral materials provided the material is:
- Required to maintain animal, rumen and nutritional health;
- Free of grains and grain carriers;
- Permitted in organic production
- Comply with all applicable livestock healthcare and living conditions requirements of the National Organic Program;
What will it cost?
This is an optional service with its own certification fee and inspection fee. For current MOSA clients the annual fees are:
Dairy: $300 Certification Fee plus Actual Inspection Fees
Meat: $300 Certification Fee plus Actual Inspection Fees
How do I get more information and application materials?
Simply call or email MOSA to request the Grass-Fed Certification application materials, or with your questions about the program.