>What restrictions do you have on "organic" when using vaccines? The USDA NOP
>certified program permits vaccinations.
The regulation states in one section that vaccines are allowed. In
another it states that only substances on the approved list are
allowed. There are no vaccines on the approved list, and the Colorado
certifiers will not allow vaccines except the federally required ones
for female calves. We are in clostridia endemic areas. We have
blackleg, redwater, overeaters disease, blacks' disease and others
around us all the time. I have to vaccinate. When I did not I lost
lambs, with proper vaccination I have not lost any to clostridial
diseases.
>As for dewormers, only in the last two weeks a marketing agent from
>CROPP/Organic Valley, one of the largest marketers for NOP products in the
>U.S. told me that if you use diatomaceous earth properly, it works.
Unfortunately it does not work in multiple proven tests. I wish it
did, but it's pure BS for sheep parasites. Not to mention that our
major parasite is nose bots. And no one even presumes to say DE works
against nose bots.
Ivermectin is approved for the organic program for dairy cattle, but
if you actually read the FDA label on ivermectin it is illegal to
give it in any form to dairy cattle of breeding age. Since the
organic statutes also require that you follow all regulations
concerning FDA licenses for meds you are forbidden from using it even
though it is actually specifically allowed, for an illegal
application. The rules are totally unworkable in terms of larger
livestock unless you are willing to accept certain death losses.
--
Oogie McGuire - oogiem@desertweyr.com
Weyr Associates - Multimedia and Web Authoring Services & Consulting
Desert Weyr - CMK Arabian horses and Black Welsh Mountain Sheep
http://www.desertweyr.com/
Paonia, CO USA
