Livestock Regulations and Compliance Guide

Compliance Protects Your Operation

Ignorance is not a defense, and non-compliance can mean fines, confiscation, or loss of selling privileges. Our guides cover health certificates for interstate transport, the USDA RFID identification rule that took effect in 2024, dealer licensing requirements and the farmer exemption, the broader federal and state regulatory landscape, and zoning laws that determine whether your property allows livestock at all.

Document health records and identification in your animals’ Creatures profiles to maintain the compliance trail regulations require.

Livestock Zoning Laws: Can You Keep Cattle on Your Property?

Can You Keep Cattle on Your Property? “Can I have cows on my land?” is one of the most common questions from aspiring livestock owners, and the answer depends almost entirely on local zoning laws. The same 10-acre property might be perfectly legal for cattle in one county and prohibited in the next, even within […]

Do You Need a License to Sell Livestock? USDA Dealer Requirements Explained

The Question Every Livestock Seller Asks “Do I need a license to sell my cattle?” It is one of the most common questions from livestock owners, and the answer depends on a distinction that many people do not know exists: the difference between a farmer selling animals they raised and a dealer buying and reselling […]

Cattle Identification Requirements: RFID Tags and the New Federal Rules

The Biggest Change in Cattle ID in Decades On November 5, 2024, new federal rules took effect requiring electronic identification (EID) ear tags for certain cattle and bison moving across state lines. The rule, published by USDA APHIS, replaces the old system of visual-only metal tags with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that can be […]

Livestock Regulations Every Buyer and Seller Must Know

Why Livestock Regulations Exist (And Why They Matter to You) If you buy, sell, breed, or transport livestock in the United States, you are operating in one of the most regulated sectors of agriculture. Federal, state, and local regulations govern everything from animal identification and disease testing to transportation requirements, sales licensing, and welfare standards. […]

Animal Health Certificates: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

What Is an Animal Health Certificate? An animal health certificate, formally called a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI), is an official document issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian that certifies an animal has been examined and found to be healthy and free of signs of infectious or contagious disease. It is the most important piece of […]

What Is Animal Welfare and Why Does It Matter?

What Is Animal Welfare? Animal welfare is the physical and psychological well-being of animals under human care. It encompasses how an animal is housed, fed, handled, transported, and treated medically. A good welfare state means the animal is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe, able to express natural behaviors, and free from pain, fear, and distress. This […]