For the 2020 Agricultural Census, organic livestock farming refers to heads of animals on the agricultural holding to which farming practices are applied in accordance with certain rules and regulations specified in Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 and Regulation (EU) 2018/848, or, where applicable, the most recent legislation, and the national implementing regulations applicable to organic production are used, including during the conversion period.

Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007 states that, normally, all animal production on a holding must be reared in accordance with the rules on organic production. However, according to specific conditions, a holding may be divided into clearly separated units which are not all managed under organic production.

As regards animals, different species may be involved. The operator shall keep the animals and products used or produced by organic units separate from non-organic units and keep adequate records to show the separation.

Animal production can be under conversion and meet the basic requirements of Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007, but to be fully compliant they must be converted to organic.

The following species of organic livestock are included: bovine animals, dairy and non-dairy cows, buffalo cows, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry, broilers, laying hens and other poultry.