Livestock Travel FAQs

Frequently asked questions

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What are the requirements when Georgia is a layover state versus the final destination?

If the animals will not be staying overnight in the state of Georgia, they need to meet the requirements of your final destination. If animals will be spending the night in the state Georgia, they will need to meet Georgia entry requirements as well as those of the final destination.

Are there rules regarding food and water for livestock during transport within the state of Georgia?

Federal law requires any livestock that are being transported for more than 28 hours to be offloaded for at least 5 consecutive hours to allow for food, water, and rest.

Please visit this link to learn more about this federal law: https://www.nal.usda.gov/animal-health-and-welfare/twenty-eight-hour-law

Do livestock have to be individually identified to enter the state of Georgia?

Most livestock entering Georgia will require individual identification.

For a full list of livestock transportation and identification requirements please visit: https://www.interstatelivestock.com/

Do I need any special permits to bring livestock into the state of Georgia?

All domestic Swine, Ratites, and Pet Birds require a prior permit to enter the State of Georgia.

Visit this link to obtain your permit: https://forms.agr.georgia.gov/SBPermits/Permits.aspx

With the risk of bird flu (avian influenza), how do I bring domestic poultry, including domestic waterfowl, into the state of Georgia?

Any birds entering the state from an area unaffected by disease will follow standard entry procedures per rule 40-13-2-.15: https://rules.sos.ga.gov/gac/40-13-2-.15

Birds entering from an active control area must have a permit, https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/secure-poultry-supply/

Poultry may not enter the state of Georgia from quarantined premises or associated premises.

What can I expect when bringing animals into the US from a foreign county?

The importation of animals from foreign countries is handled by USDA APHIS. Questions related to importation of animals can be answered here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/live-animal-import.

Cattle, including steers, imported from Mexico must test negative for tuberculosis within sixty (60) days prior to entry into Georgia. Steers must be "M" branded in compliance with USDA regulations. Mexican cattle will be quarantined upon arrival and retested not less than 120 days nor more than 180 days after arrival.

All animals being imported into the state of Georgia should meet all the state’s entry requirements in addition to all international entry requirements.

Are there exceptions to the health certificate rules for livestock headed straight to slaughter?

Cattle moved directly to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment must be individually identified on a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection or waybill and are not allowed to come in contact with any other cattle in Georgia until arrival at such slaughtering establishment.

Swine entering Georgia for immediate slaughter must be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, waybill, or proof of ownership and must be consigned to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment.

All sheep and goats entering Georgia for immediate slaughter must be individually identified by a method approved by USDA and be accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, waybill, or proof of ownership and must be consigned to a state or federally approved slaughter establishment.

How do the regulations for importing or selling animals for agricultural purposes differ from pet imports?

While pets traveling for pleasure with their owners are exempt from the certificate of veterinary inspection requirements, the same is not true for livestock.

Livestock entering the state of Georgia for any reason are subject to species-specific entry requirements. If you need help determining entry requirements, you can visit this link for an easy breakdown of entry requirements by species: https://www.interstatelivestock.com/