This chapter of the Organic and Alternative Animal Health series is a broad overview of organic and alternative livestock production and your role as an animal health/animal management professional working with these farmers and ranchers. This chapter  will introduce you to organic and alternative agriculture, its roots, economics, and the benefits of this growing and evolving  system. We’ll meet the producers and learn why they work in and believe in these systems. Organic certification rules and regulations will be explored, along with the various  treatment options used. We will also delve into practice management and communication tools to engage with and incorporate these new clients.

Learning more about organic and alternative agriculture systems helps support these farmers and will benefit your veterinary and animal health efforts. This chapter is a very broad overview. Subsequent chapters in this Organic and Alternative Animal Health series expand on the important topics introduced in this chapter.

Learning Objectives

After viewing this module, the participant will be able to:

• Explain oversight and the basic requirements of USDA certified organic livestock production
• Distinguish between the various types of organic and alternative livestock production
• Recognize the motivations of organic and alternative producers
• Recognize treatment options that are common to both conventional and organic livestock production
• Locate resources to learn more about organic and alternative livestock production