Health requirements for admitting Domestic Sheep into California
For information contact:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A–107
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 651–6278
Fax: (916) 653–2215
Current Health Requirements
To Protect the Health of Our Livestock,
-
Interstate Livestock Entry Permit. Prior to
entering California, all sheep require a permit from the Animal
Health Branch, valid for 15 days. The owner’s name, physical
address and telephone number are required. Call
916–651–6278 for permits.
Exception: Sheep less than 18 months of age in slaughter channels* that are not pregnant and have not lambed or aborted. -
Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). A CVI
is required for all sexually intact breeding sheep. The owner must
state on the certificate: “The animals are not
scrapie–positive, scrapie–suspect, or from a
non–compliant flock.”
Exceptions:- Sheep in slaughter channels*
- Sheep moving for grazing without change of ownership.
- Low risk commercial sheep (contact the Animal Health Branch permit desk for more information).
-
Official Identification. All sheep require either:
- Individual identification approved by the USDA and CDFA.
-
Official ear tags**, Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification
Program (SFCP) ear tags, tattoos or electronic ID (owner must
carry functioning reader) are acceptable.
Exceptions:- Sheep less than 18 months of age in slaughter channels* that are not pregnant and have not lambed or aborted.
- Castrated sheep less than 18 months of age that are not for exhibition.
- Sheep moving for grazing without change of ownership.
-
Brucella ovis test. Rams 6 months of age
and over imported into California require a negative Brucella ovis
test within 60 days before entry OR originate from a Brucella ovis
free flock. The CVI must include the official ID number, test
results, name of the approved laboratory, date of the test, or the
“Brucella ovis free flock number”.
Exceptions:- Rams moving for grazing.
- Rams entering for exhibition without change of ownership.
All sheep changing ownership in California require official ID, except:
- Animals less than 18 months of age in slaughter channels* that are not pregnant and have not lambed or aborted.
- Castrated animals less than 18 months of age that are not for exhibition.
*Slaughter channels: sheep moving directly to a state or federally
approved slaughter facility.
**Official ear tags: can be obtained through USDA at
916–854–3900 or toll free 1–866–USDA–TAG
(1–866–873–2824). (Updated August 2006)
(English PDF 118
KB) (Spanish
PDF 46 KB)
Additional Information:
Link to CDFA Animal
Health Scrapie page
http://animalagriculture.org/scrapie/Scrapie.htm
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/scrapie.htm
Contact us for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Animal Health Branch
1220 N Street, Room A-107
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-1447
Fax: (916) 653-2215
or send an email to: ahbfeedback@cdfa.ca.gov