Organic livestock does not need 100% organic feed. The PGS-India Standards set two thresholds depending on the animal, and they are calculated in a specific way that matters when you check whether a ration complies.
The two thresholds
- 85%Minimum organic feed for ruminants — cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat
- 80%Minimum organic feed for non-ruminants — pigs, poultry
- Dry matterThe basis of the calculation — not fresh weight
- 12 monthsFodder from land converting this long already counts as organic feed
What the Rule Actually Says
Products keep their organic status provided livestock and poultry are fed at least 85% for ruminants and 80% for non-ruminants, calculated on a dry matter basis, from feed obtained from organic sources produced under the crop production standards.
"On a dry matter basis" is doing real work in that sentence. Green fodder is mostly water, so weighing a ration fresh flatters the organic share. The percentage has to be worked out with moisture taken out — which is why a ration that looks compliant by the bucket can fail on paper.
Feed That Is Banned Outright
Separately from the percentage, the standard lists inputs that must not be included in or added to farm animal feed at all:
| Banned in feed | Note |
|---|---|
| Synthetic growth promoters or stimulants | Including anything fed to stimulate growth or production |
| Synthetic appetisers | — |
| Preservatives | Except when used as a processing aid |
| Artificial colouring agents | Natural sources only, where used at all |
| Urea | Named explicitly |
| Farm animal by-products | e.g. abattoir waste — to ruminants |
| Droppings, dung or other manure | All types of excreta, even technologically processed |
| Solvent-extracted feed | e.g. hexane-extracted soya and rape seed meal |
| Feed with added chemical agents | — |
| Pure amino acids | — |
| Genetically engineered organisms | Or any product of them |
Supplements and Additives
Vitamins, trace elements and supplements must be of natural origin when available in appropriate quantity and quality. The same principle runs through the additive rules: antioxidants only from natural sources, preservatives only natural acids, colours and flavours only natural, and probiotics, enzymes and microorganisms allowed but not from genetically modified sources.
Silage additives and processing aids may not come from genetically engineered organisms, and may consist only of sea salt, coarse rock salt, yeasts, enzymes, whey, sugar or sugar products such as molasses, jaggery and grain bran, honey, and lactic, acetic, formic and propionic bacteria or their natural acid product — the last only when weather prevents adequate fermentation, and with certification-body approval.
Veterinary Treatment and Withdrawal Periods
Feed is not the only route a prohibited substance can reach an animal, which is why the health-care rules sit alongside it.
Vaccinations required by law are permitted. Where disease occurs, therapeutic veterinary drugs are allowed under the prescription and supervision of a registered veterinarian — but double the mandatory withdrawal period for that drug must be observed. Where no withdrawal period is prescribed, a minimum of 48 hours applies.
Herbal, phytotherapeutic (excluding antibiotics), homeopathic or ayurvedic products are to be preferred over allopathic drugs and antibiotics. Using allopathic drugs or antibiotics preventively, or to raise productivity or fertility, is prohibited outright — as is hormonal treatment except for therapeutic reasons under veterinary supervision.
Conversion periods for each species are in the previous episode.