Marin Sun Farms Production Ruminant Protocol
Cattle, Sheep, and Goat
I. Supplemental Feed – All ruminants are 100% grass fed
A. Allowed Feeds
1. Raw mothers milk
2. Perennial grasses, legumes, forbs, browse
3. Planted annual forages direct grazed
4. Molasses
5. Minerals
6. Conserved allowable feeds (hay)
B. Prohibited Feeds
1. Concentrated grains or starches
2. Genetically modified organisms
3. Animal and Fish by-products
4. ***Any forages sprayed with non-OMRI certified herbicides or pesticides
II. Humane Treatment
A. Low stress handling
III. No Hormones or Artificial Growth Stimulants – All hormones and artificial growth stimulants are prohibited
IV. Free of Antibiotics
A. Sub-therapeutic (in feed or sustained exposure) antibiotics are prohibited
B. Therapeutic (injected or isolated treatment) antibiotics must only be used, if necessary, as a targeted application and the animal must have metabolized and be free of the antibiotic prior to slaughter
V. Free-Range/Never Confined -All animals are free range at all times and at all stages of their life, except in the case of inclement weather, when the well being of the land and the livestock require feeding or shelter
VI. Local – All livestock are reared within the Bay Area Food-Shed in California
VII. Land Management and Ecological Monitoring – Land utilized for production is managed for high productivity and ecological enhancement. Monitoring of the ecological processes on the ranch is allowed as an assessment of effective land management and improvement
VIII. Finish and Weight
A. All livestock must be fat, finished, and in good health
B. All livestock will be graded for quality acceptance upon carcass receiving
IX. Contract – A signed contract will bind the Co-Producer, Marin Sun Farms, and this Production Protocol. This contract acts as the affidavit of protocol compliance for the specified livestock
*** – Transition toward full prohibition
