Role of livestock in organic farming systems
In organic farming, livestock play an important part in the farming system. This Prime fact details the steps necessary to market livestock produce as ‘organic’.

Nutrient cycling
Nitrogen fixed by legumes and other nutrients consumed by livestock during grazing are returned to soil via manure and urine. Managed carefully, livestock and manure can play an important role in nutrient cycling on the organic farm.
In feedlots, it is necessary to store and dispose of manure and urine in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Weed control
Livestock are used extensively for weed control on organic farms. For example, they can graze down weeds either before sowing a crop or after crop establishment for weed control and to enhance tillering. Crops can be selected for their palatability. Livestock selectively graze out weeds and avoid the less palatable crop.

Pasture and crop establishment
Livestock can assist in preparing ground for planting. For example, they can assist with stubble management by grazing and trampling stubble.

Insect and disease control
The pasture phase in a mixed cropping system builds a critical fertility and structure building phase into rotations and interrupts the potential for the build-up of insects and disease.

Livestock nutrition
Organic farming aims to provide a diet which livestock is most adapted to consume. Organic husbandry does not aim to maximise weight gain at the expense of animal health and happiness. While good nutrition aims to achieve adequate yields, it has an enormous effect on animal health and is therefore very important in disease prevention.