Selling Cattle Across State Lines

I live in Missouri and I have someone from IL buying one of my heifers. What all is required to get the heifer across state lines? I am assuming health papers and a brucellosis shots from a vet. Anything else? I've never sold cattle to someone in a different state before so tell me all you can. Thanks!

Check with your vet who would do the papers.
States vary.

LLBUX said:

Check with your vet who would do the papers.
States vary.

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Call your vet a week or two before shipping as some of the test might require some time... either in the lab or for reading the results (TB). You vet should call the state the cattle are going to and get the requirements. 

Also remember that Bangs vaccinations are given between 4-9 months of age, any thing outside that window is highly discourage (maybe not allowed?) due to a false positive on the card test.  Not sure what you sold but also check into that.

Don't you have to also check what the requirements are for the state their shipping to?

Health papers will work my husband hauls cattle for a lot of buyers and all he ever gets is health papers and if you get pulled over for dot inspection he's never even been asked for them. He's been doing it for ten years now.

obie105 said:

Health papers will work my husband hauls cattle for a lot of buyers and all he ever gets is health papers and if you get pulled over for dot inspection he's never even been asked for them. He's been doing it for ten years now.

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Be very careful.  All it takes is one stop to create HUGE issues.  If a state requires bruc or TB and you do not have the test, bad things happen. 

VC - Any vet worth their salt can find out state requirements much easier than any one.  If they find the requirements, they will know exactly what they need rather than getting the information 2nd hand.

BTDT: Your correct, some states do a good job of posting what you need others not so much, as bad as somethings are done in California, they do a good job of posting the requirements for entry into the state.
http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/ahfss/Animal_Health/BeefCattle.html

Call your vet ASAP as some tests require time or a special test kit.

I would never take a chance on not having the proper papers in transporting livestock from state to state.

Your vet should make the call to the state vet office to determine exact rules.  Animal health laws change and written word is superceded by new law.    You are responsible for having the proper paperwork.  PERIOD.

Don't forget to meet the laws of every state through which the animals pass.

I agree check with your vet. Also don't forget brand inspections. We send steers to Texas and Ok. and always have to have brand papers.

I have always been curious about brand papers/inspection.  How do you handle brand papers when you don't brand your cattle?  I probably sound really naïve- sorry.  Do you simply state on papers for states that require brand papers that "brand is not applicable"?
Thanks
EF

Don't know about other states, but in Wyoming when we transport any livestock out of the county, they have to have a brand inspection.  This applies even if retaining ownership to go to owned or leased pasture or to be placed in a feedlot or to go to a show.  Livestock we frequently haul (horses, show cattle) we can obtain a lifetime brand inspection paper. 

All livestock leaving the state have to have a brand inspection for the change of ownership and health papers if the buyer's state requires them, which most, if not all states do.  Unbranded livestock will show "No Brand" or "NB" or something like that to indicate that they are slick. 

Incoming livestock only need a brand inspection if the state from which they originated requires a brand inspection, but in all cases need health papers.  For instance, during the NWSS at Denver, if cattle come from a non-brand inspection state, they need health papers.  When they are purchased and leave Colorado, they need a brand inspection to leave the state as well as health papers to enter the state of their new home.

For cattle coming to Wyoming directly from a non-brand inspection state, all that is needed is health papers.  I always want a bill of sale from the seller for taxes.