Animal manures have long been an important input into organic and biodynamic growing systems. They still have a major role to play, as a compost ingredient and accelerator, a relatively plentiful and cheap source of organic matter, and for their nutrient content. Organic growers can demonstrate local sustainability by recycling the resource of animal manures in their area. It is much more difficult to design sustainable agricultural systems without animals, and they play a vital role in establishing the farm as an ‘organism’. The ‘organism’ concept was the origin of the term ‘organic’, and the first people to use it envisaged an essential role for animals as converters of otherwise unused harvests, weed controllers and soil improvers.

Certified organic farmers are however severely restricted by organic standards, with respect to total quantities per hectare over time and manure management. Though the press was quick to make assumptions when a well-known juice manufacturer had a contamination issue, this was proven to originate from conventional sources, not organic growers. Organic growers believe that the restriction that standards place upon feeding of any manure or animal waste back to other animals that has ensured that, even to this time, no animal born and bred on an organic farm has contracted BSE.