FEEDING A NICHE by Mike Mehren Ph.D.

Feeding a Niche
BY MIKE MEHREN

Cattle business forecasters have told cattle producers that survival in the industry will require joining alliances and finding niches. In the Pacific Northwest we have several alliances available and we also have producers attempting to grow livestock that fit a niche market. The niche markets referred to are (1) Organic Beef, (2) Grass Fed Beef and (3) Natural Beef.

The best way to differentiate the programs is to use the USDA designation as the starting point.

ORGANIC. To be labeled USDA Organic the USDA must certify each producer and processor. This involves a lot of time and money. In general the regulations state that:

Produced and processed by certified organic unit

Must be free of mammalian or poultry byproducts. Must not be exposed to pesticides, fertilizers made from synthetic ingredients or bioengineering (genetically modified).

Free from antibiotic or growth hormone

Animals for slaughter must be raised under organic guidelines from the last trimester of gestation until processed. This means that cows must be fed organically grown feedstuffs the last three months before the calves are born.

Feed is required to be certified as 100% organic, but certain minerals are allowable.

Genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited.

Soil fertility managed according to organic standards

Organic seeds preferred for planting stock.

Crop pests, weeds, disease controlled via organically certified practices

Preventive management including vaccines allowable

Producers prohibited from withholding treatment for a sick animal. However once an animal is treated, must be removed from the organic program

All animals must have access to outside pastures, and may only be confined for health, safety, or a particular stage of production.

May be audited by USDA or contracted representative from State.

GRASS FED. Certified USDA Grass Fed Beef requires that:

Grass and forage will be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning.

Diets consisting of grass, forbs, browse, or cereal grain crops in the vegetative state (vegetative state means before any grain has formed on the plant).

Hay, haylage, baleage, crop residue without grain and other roughages are allowed.

Vitamin and mineral supplement is allowed.

Animals must have access to range or pasture during the growing season.

Legumes (such as alfalfa, clover, peas) and brassica (such as beets, kale, turnips) are specifically mentioned as being approved.

May be audited by USDA or contracted representative from State

NATURAL. To be labeled natural the product must meet three criteria.

it must be minimally processed

it can contain no artificial ingredients

it cannot contain preservatives

There is no government audit of the raising or feeding. The owners certify that they complied with the rules of their program.

Above is a very brief outline of some of the different programs for beef cattle. Now what about feeding them. I’ll use the same format, but will start at the most restrictive to the least restrictive program.

ORGANIC
1. All feeds (whether grazed, supplemented, or fed) must be certified organic.
This has led to a little humor and frustration in the feed manufacturing industry. All sort of ‘fu-fu’ powders are promoted to enhance performance, kill parasites, and prevent disease for organic cattle. Fortunately, very few are actually certified organic so can’t be mixed into a supplement that will be sold as organic. Each ingredient in a supplement must carry it’s own certification for a feed mill to include it in an organic feed. The main difference between a standard supplement and an organic one is the source of the carrier. The minerals are the same.
2. Equipment used to hold, process, and deliver feed must be used exclusively for organic feeds.
3. If bedding is used, and there is a chance that the animals will eat it, it must be certified organic.
4. There is a list of synthetic products that can be used. Most of the ingredients in this list are for cleaning, sanitizing, or topical application. Very few are ok to feed. I could find no listing for synthetic vitamins. The only commercially available natural vitamin that I know of is Vitamin E, and I’m not certain it is certified organic.

GRASS FED
1. The biggest issue in any part of the country that has seasons when forage is green and growing and seasons when forage is dry and mature is to keep the animals gaining weight during the dry season. Using grain or grain byproducts are specifically forbidden. Irrigated pastures can be used until they run out or get covered by snow. Grass silage and hay can be fed as a supplement. The trick is to find a feedstuff or group of feedstuffs that is high in energy (or TDN or Calories) to be grazed or fed along with grass to support gains of 2 lb daily. Crops such as sudangrass, grazing triticale varieties, and beets or turnips can be planted late season and serve to extend the grazing season when native range has matured. If we let our imagination run wild (which mine seems to, far too frequently) we might feed cull apples, berries,
melons, other fruit, carrots, peas, or pumpkins. These by products certainly aren’t related to grain, would be grazed, however aren’t a grass or forb.
2. The USDA guidelines do not appear to prohibit feeding an ionophore such as Bovatec, Gain Pro, or Rumensin. Antibiotics and implants are not mentioned in the guidelines either.

NATURAL
1. The natural labeling refers to the product...beef. It does not refer to methods of production, equipment, or feeds.
2. Typically, the cattle are fed no hormones or antibiotics, and are not implanted.
3. There is a difference in antimicrobials (or antibiotic) that may be fed depending on a particular program. Some programs allow antimicrobial use, while others don’t. This is strictly up to the group, and not certified by USDA.
4. No restriction on feeds other than mammalian protein (which is banned from all beef cattle feeds).
5. The USDA is taking comments on natural beef, so there may be a set of national guidelines in the future.

This article helped me differentiate among some of the niches that people are looking into or participating in. I didn’t mention them, but there are breed association alliances that are also available. Each requires a thorough understanding of the costs, risks, and rewards that are available when compared to your present program. Dr. G. C. Smith and others of the Univ. Nebraska published an excellent summary of facts titled Conventional, Natural, Grass-Fed and Organic Beef: Fact Sheet’ in 2006. It can serve as an excellent starting point if you are investigating a change in your operation. The State Extension Services have programs available that allow you to compare opportunities on an unbiased basis.

Michael J. Mehren, Ph.D. may be going from rags to niches in 08. He wishes all a healthy and prosperous year. He may be contacted by Email @ mehrens@eotnet.net.



		Feeding a Niche BY MIKE MEHREN Cattle business forecasters have told cattle producers that survival in the industry will require joining alliances and finding niches. In the Pacific Northwest we have several alliances available and we also have producers attempting to grow livestock that fit a niche market. The niche markets referred to are (1) Organic Beef, (2) Grass Fed Beef and (3) Natural Beef. The best way to differentiate the programs is to use the USDA designation as the starting point. ORGANIC. To be labeled USDA Organic the USDA must certify each producer and processor. This involves a lot of time and money. In general the regulations state that: Produced and processed by certified organic unit Must be free of mammalian or poultry byproducts. Must not be exposed to pesticides, fertilizers made from synthetic ingredients or bioengineering (genetically modified). Free from antibiotic or growth hormone Animals for slaughter must be raised under organic guidelines from the last trimester of gestation until processed. This means that cows must be fed organically grown feedstuffs the last three months before the calves are born. Feed is required to be certified as 100% organic, but certain minerals are allowable. Genetic engineering, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge is prohibited. Soil fertility managed according to organic standards Organic seeds preferred for planting stock. Crop pests, weeds, disease controlled via organically certified practices Preventive management including vaccines allowable Producers prohibited from withholding treatment for a sick animal. However once an animal is treated, must be removed from the organic program All animals must have access to outside pastures, and may only be confined for health, safety, or a particular stage of production. May be audited by USDA or contracted representative from State. GRASS FED. Certified USDA Grass Fed Beef requires that: Grass and forage will be the feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Diets consisting of grass, forbs, browse, or cereal grain crops in the vegetative state (vegetative state means before any grain has formed on the plant). Hay, haylage, baleage, crop residue without grain and other roughages are allowed. Vitamin and mineral supplement is allowed. Animals must have access to range or pasture during the growing season. Legumes (such as alfalfa, clover, peas) and brassica (such as beets, kale, turnips) are specifically mentioned as being approved. May be audited by USDA or contracted representative from State NATURAL. To be labeled natural the product must meet three criteria. it must be minimally processed it can contain no artificial ingredients it cannot contain preservatives There is no government audit of the raising or feeding. The owners certify that they complied with the rules of their program. Above is a very brief outline of some of the different programs for beef cattle. Now what about feeding them. I’ll use the same format, but will start at the most restrictive to the least restrictive program. ORGANIC 1. All feeds (whether grazed, supplemented, or fed) must be certified organic. This has led to a little humor and frustration in the feed manufacturing industry. All sort of ‘fu-fu’ powders are promoted to enhance performance, kill parasites, and prevent disease for organic cattle. Fortunately, very few are actually certified organic so can’t be mixed into a supplement that will be sold as organic. Each ingredient in a supplement must carry it’s own certification for a feed mill to include it in an organic feed. The main difference between a standard supplement and an organic one is the source of the carrier. The minerals are the same. 2. Equipment used to hold, process, and deliver feed must be used exclusively for organic feeds. 3. If bedding is used, and there is a chance that the animals will eat it, it must be certified organic. 4. There is a list of synthetic products that can be used. Most of the ingredients in this list are for cleaning, sanitizing, or topical application. Very few are ok to feed. I could find no listing for synthetic vitamins. The only commercially available natural vitamin that I know of is Vitamin E, and I’m not certain it is certified organic. GRASS FED 1. The biggest issue in any part of the country that has seasons when forage is green and growing and seasons when forage is dry and mature is to keep the animals gaining weight during the dry season. Using grain or grain byproducts are specifically forbidden. Irrigated pastures can be used until they run out or get covered by snow. Grass silage and hay can be fed as a supplement. The trick is to find a feedstuff or group of feedstuffs that is high in energy (or TDN or Calories) to be grazed or fed along with grass to support gains of 2 lb daily. Crops such as sudangrass, grazing triticale varieties, and beets or turnips can be planted late season and serve to extend the grazing season when native range has matured. If we let our imagination run wild (which mine seems to, far too frequently) we might feed cull apples, berries, melons, other fruit, carrots, peas, or pumpkins. These by products certainly aren’t related to grain, would be grazed, however aren’t a grass or forb. 2. The USDA guidelines do not appear to prohibit feeding an ionophore such as Bovatec, Gain Pro, or Rumensin. Antibiotics and implants are not mentioned in the guidelines either. NATURAL 1. The natural labeling refers to the product...beef. It does not refer to methods of production, equipment, or feeds. 2. Typically, the cattle are fed no hormones or antibiotics, and are not implanted. 3. There is a difference in antimicrobials (or antibiotic) that may be fed depending on a particular program. Some programs allow antimicrobial use, while others don’t. This is strictly up to the group, and not certified by USDA. 4. No restriction on feeds other than mammalian protein (which is banned from all beef cattle feeds). 5. The USDA is taking comments on natural beef, so there may be a set of national guidelines in the future. This article helped me differentiate among some of the niches that people are looking into or participating in. I didn’t mention them, but there are breed association alliances that are also available. Each requires a thorough understanding of the costs, risks, and rewards that are available when compared to your present program. Dr. G. C. Smith and others of the Univ. Nebraska published an excellent summary of facts titled Conventional, Natural, Grass-Fed and Organic Beef: Fact Sheet’ in 2006. It can serve as an excellent starting point if you are investigating a change in your operation. The State Extension Services have programs available that allow you to compare opportunities on an unbiased basis. Michael J. Mehren, Ph.D. may be going from rags to niches in 08. He wishes all a healthy and prosperous year. He may be contacted by Email @ mehrens@eotnet.net.		About OFGA Services Join OFGA Meetings & Events OFGA Officers OFGA Bylaws Links Contact OFGA Articles Mike Mehren, Ph.D. Feed/Export Wheat Report