When an enterprise is engaged in organic livestock, organic farming rules as specified in the specific section of crop production in Organic Farming Regulations apply for all areas of forage crops used for feeding of livestock.

It is mandatory to apply the transition period as specified in the Organic Farming Regulation on all land cultivated with pasture and/or forage crops used for organic livestock. Livestock brought in from organic farms fed with organic feed only, genetically unmodified, resistant to environment, climatic conditions and disease-resistant animals are used as breeders.

In organic livestock special care is given to the selection of disease-resistant species and breeds by taking into consideration the local conditions.

In cases where sufficient number of organically grown animals do not exist to form a herd for a start off, inclusion of conventionally bred animals in organic livestock is subject to the observance of the conditions specified in Organic Farming Regulation leading to the permission of the control body.

The esssence of organic livestock breeding is natural insemination and no embryo transfer is permitted. Artificial insemination can be realized with semen obtained from breeding animals entirely with natural methods, stored and used for such a purpose.

Animals in organic ranches should have access to pasture and open-air areas and the number of animals per unit area should be limited that they can provide enough animal manure for adequate crop production in manufacturing units.

All animals located in the same production units must be grown according to the Organic Agriculture Regulation. Animals not raised in accordance with the provisions of this Regulation can only be kept at the same plant provided that they come from the same race and their land and premises are clearly separated from areas approved suitable for organic farming as of the rules of the Regulation on Organic Farming.

All identically bred animals not raised in accordance with the provisions of the Principles and Practices of Organic Agriculture Regulations published in Official Gazette No. 27676 on August 10, 2010 should not be on the same pasture with animals reared with the provisions of this Regulation.

Barns and open fields should also comply with the conditions specified in the Regulation on Organic Farming.

Enterprises engaged in organic animal breeding and animal production regularly maintain records on entry, exit, and all treatment applications.

When a regular poultry company switches to organic poultry farming relevant legislation on organic farming rules apply for all forage crops cultivation areas on crop production.

For egg production, chicks cannot be older than 18 weeks and broiler chicks cannot be older than three days since they left the farm they are originated. Feed ingredients of animal origin must bear the features available in organic farming legislation.

For poultry, antibiotics, coccidiostats, medical substances enhancing the growth and production of other substances cannot be used in feeding.Feed materials, feed additives, feed-off processing aids and products used in animal nutrition, cannot be produced using genetically modified organisms or products derived from them. Conventional feed and organic feed cannot be processed simultaneously in the same factory. Organic feed necessarily have to be labeled.

Organically and conventionally produced feeds should be physically kept and stored at separate locations.

All sorts of equipment used for preperation of organic and conventional feed should be completely separated. Proper placement density must be provided to prevent health problems due to overcrowding.

Despite all the preventive measures, in case of illness or injury of an animal, if necessary, it should be isolated in a suitable shelter and must be treated immediately.

In organic poultry production, animals cannot be genetically modified, and genetically modified organisms cannot be used as input in organic livestock production. Gene technology methods are not allowed to animal breeding. Use of hormones or similar substances to control reproduction or other purposes and usage of any substance for growth and increase in production is prohibited. However, hormones can be apllied for treatment purposes for sick animals by the veterinary.

Free, open-air, and open shelter areas should provide adequate protection from rain, wind, sun, and overheating depending on local weather conditions.

Shelters shoul be large enough to accomodate animals comfortably where they can stand, lie, turn, clean themselves, take all natural positions, and all natural movements such as stretching and flapping their wings. Feces, urine and spilled or scattered food must be removed in order to reduce odor and fight with insect and roder.Poultry must be reared in open growing conditions and should not be kept in cages. Water birds should be able to access to rivers, ponds or lakes for their comfort and hygiene as long as climatic conditions allow. At least one-third of the coop floor should be flat and not in pieces or in grid structure and should not be covered with materials such as stem-straw, sawdust, sand or short grass.

More than half of the coop floor should be conducive for gathering of stool. Perches proportional with the size of the poultry groups should be available.

In laying hens natural light and artificial lighting shall not exceed a total of 16 hours a day. A minimum of eight hours of rest period is applied without artificial lighting. In cases where climatic conditions allow birds should access to the open-air shelters and this should be applied during at least 1/3 of their lives as much as possible. These outdoor shelters should mostly be covered with vegetation, with protective facilities and animals should have access to sufficient number of waterers and feeders.

Coops should be left empty between two rearing periods for health reasons and buildings and istallations should be cleaned and disinfected during this period.

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