Livestock

Livestock Auction Market Schedule

If you desire to open a new livestock auction, an application is required and approval is contingent upon available Department personnel. Facility, animal identification, and record keeping requirements are listed in Subject 40-13-6. AUCTION MARKETS

In addition to meeting Auction Market requirements, proof of surety coverage must be acquired prior to operation.

Livestock Auction Market Applications 

USDA Market News reporting has been around for 100+ years. This service enables farmers and producers to gain unbiased price and sales information to assist in the marketing of agricultural commodities.

Our Livestock and Poultry inspectors are certified to grade and report on cattle markets for the public. Reports give information used to evaluate market conditions, identify trends, make purchasing decisions, and monitor price patterns.

For more info, visit: Slaughter Cattle Auctions | Agricultural Marketing Service

Livestock dealers in Georgia must be licensed by the state to buy or sell on commission. This applies to farmers buying on commission for the sake of slaughter on behalf of other operations.

Farmers purchasing solely for grazing and feeding livestock are exempt from licensing and surety requirements.

Livestock Dealer Applications

Disposal of dead animals is governed by the Dead Animal Disposal Act, O.C.G.A. Title 4, Ch. 5 and is enforced by GDA Livestock and Poultry. Under this statute, dead animals must be disposed of in a manner that is approved by the Commissioner of Agriculture. The approved methods can be found in Rule 40-13-5-.04 Methods of Disposal of Dead Animals.

GDA Farm premises registration is a product of the Federal-State-Industry partnership helping with the Animal Disease Traceability program. The program partnership is designed to help livestock producers to minimize the impact of an animal disease outbreak.

Premises include farms, ranches, production units, markets, slaughter facilities, ports of entry, exhibitions, and any other location where livestock are raised, held, or boarded.

A PIN may be required by feral hog licenses, livestock shows and sales, laboratories for testing of livestock, and to obtain some licenses. Under federal law, a PIN must be set up before tags can be assigned and distributed for animals at that location.

To request a PIN, fill out and sign the application at https://gdaforms.wufoo.com/forms/gda-farm-flock-premises-registration/ 

Official Identification for Livestock

Any person owning livestock can register a brand by applying to the Commissioner of Agriculture for a certificate of registration. Brand registration is not required in the state of Georgia; however the fact that livestock is branded with a registered mark is prima-facie evidence that such livestock belongs to the person to whom the registration is issued. 

To register, fill out our online Application for Brand form.

Livestock brands are reviewed and purged on a 5-year cycle. Everyone with registered brands must renew their information every year ending in 4 and 9 (e.g., 2024, 2029, etc.).

Important: we mail a reminder to all brand registrants when it is time to renew. If you do not respond within the given deadline, your brand registration may be canceled, and the certificate of brand registration may be reassigned to another person.

Make sure to keep your contact information current with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. If you miss this critical 5-year communication and forget to renew, your registration may be canceled.

Georgia state law governing brand registration can be found in the Official Code of Georgia Annotated at Title 4, Chapter 2, Marks and Brands O.C.G.A §§ 4-2-1 — 4-2-5.