The why of organically raised animal foods...

Organically raised animals foods like beef and poultry are better for your health than their conventionally raised counterparts because the animals from which they come are better fed, raised under healthier conditions, and are not able to be treated with most of the drugs and hormones often used in non-organic methods of raising livestock.

In the case of organics, "livestock" is actually a broad term used to refer to cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, and other animals that are often raised for the purpose of providing food. However, "livestock" does not include any fish or seafood products.

The key organic standards for livestock include:

Use of 100% organic feed
No use of sewage sludge when pastures are fertilized or when food is being produced to feed animals
No use of genetically engineered foods when feeding animals
No use of irradiation to preserve meats
No use of nitrates or nitrites to preserve meats
No use of growth promoters or growth hormones
No use of plastic pellets for roughage in feed
No use of antibiotics
Required access to the outdoors, including access to pasture in the case of ruminant animals (including cows, goats, sheep, and deer)

When it comes to the raising of all animals, these organic rules must be applied no later than the second day of life for poultry, and no later than the last third of gestation (pregnancy) for other animals.

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