Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 7.4 Organic beef production in the OBE Beef
organisation in the Channel Country in Australia, where
the climatic and environmental conditions almost formed
an organic-by-default production
OBE Beef is an alliance of 40 individual cattle producers formed in 1996 and centred
around the unique Channel Country of southwest Queensland and northeast South
Australia. OBE Beef manages an area of more than seven million hectares with a
combined herd in excess of 100,000 cattle. OBE Beef is Australia's largest organic beef
supplier, involving the partners in all stages of the supply chain from production through
to marketing and promotion.
The decision to obtain certified organic production status was considered by the OBE
Beef founding members to be a logical extension to their current low intensity
production systems. The certification process for individual properties took up to three
years to meet International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
standards as accredited by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture in
Australia (NASAA) (AFFA 2000). Existing management systems were adapted to an
organic management plan covering record keeping, physical structures and maintenance
of property resources (e.g. testing the soil for chemical contamination, erection of
approved fences and stock handling facilities such as yards and loading ramps, and the
provision of good quality water supplies). Ongoing monitoring of the condition of the
natural resources is fundamental to OBE Beef operations, ensuring environmental
sustainability. Any supplementary feed brought onto the properties, such as hay, had to
be organically grown and stored appropriately.
A high standard of animal husbandry has to be maintained. Stud bulls are introduced
into the organically accredited herds following appropriate quarantine. The herds are
otherwise self-replacing. An electronic identification system for individual animals
completes the quality traceability system.
Cattle are processed at a fully certified abattoir near Toowoomba, Queensland, a
distance of up to 1600 km for some partner properties. The transportation and slaughter
processes are rigorously controlled to avoid contamination and ensure separation from
non-organic stock. Specific standards were developed for transport and handling of the
stock over this distance, and endorsed by NASAA.
Measures adopted to ensure the continuity of production included production of
organic hay and agreements to agist cattle on certified organic properties closer to the
processing plant during dry times.
With assistance from the Australian Government, OBE Beef originally targeted the
markets of Japan, learning valuable marketing skills and developing important
relationships with their Japanese trading partners. Their first export shipment to Japan
was in 1998, including taste testing and customer seminars presented by some of the
OBE partners. Sales have continued to grow, with export countries now including USA,
some European countries as well as sections of the Australian domestic market. The
volume of organic beef exports is around 0.1% of Australia's total beef exports, providing
considerable opportunities for further expansion.
Animal disease treatment in organic animal husbandry
Intervention in any case of potential crisis: critically important
One aim of organic farming is to reduce the use of synthetic chemical substances. However,
disease must be treated for animal welfare reasons, and the most effective treatment will often
