Learn about the requirements for moving cattle into, out of and within Florida. 

Intrastate Movement (Movement Within Florida)

Cattle Identification Requirements

All cattle and bison 18 months of age or older moving within Florida must have official individual identification, unless the cattle are:

1. Moving directly to slaughter or through one approved livestock market and then directly to slaughter,
2. Moving to an approved tagging site, or
3. Being moved from one premises to another premises with the cattle remaining under common ownership as part of normal farm or ranching operations. Cattle shall not be commingled with cattle under separate ownership.

Official individual identification is an approved identification device under federal requirements that is tamper-proof and uniquely identifies the animal to the premises on which it was identified. Examples include:

1. Official alphanumeric U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) metal ear tags (National Uniform Ear Tagging System Brite tags)
2. Official alphanumeric USDA metal vaccination tags (Orange tags)
3. Official 840 tags (radio-frequency identification [RFID] tags or visual)
4. Official individual animal registration identification accompanied by registration papers

Note: Official identification applied after November 5, 2024, must be both electronically and visually readable per revision to 9 CFR 86.4.  

Exhibition Requirements

Florida Origin Cattle Exhibiting in Public Annual Fairs Permitted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (as Defined by Florida Statute 616)

Cattle or bison must be accompanied by an Official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (OCVI) dated not more than 90 days prior to exhibition.

• Official Identification is required.
  • USDA-Approved Identification Device [ Adobe PDF Document ]
  • Registry brand or tattoo, if accompanied by registry papers
• No tuberculosis test is required.
• No brucellosis test is required.

Cattle Imported From Other States for Exhibition

Cattle or bison must be accompanied by an OCVI dated not more than 30 days prior to exhibition. For bulls 18 months old and older, the OCVI must include the statement "Exhibition only, no commingling with female cattle, return to origin immediately following exhibition."

Imported dairy cattle must have a negative caudal fold test for tuberculosis within 60 days unless they originate from an Accredited Free herd in an Accredited Free state.

Imported lactating dairy cattle must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for highly pathogenic avian influenza within seven days of importation per the Federal Order [ Adobe PDF Document ]. 

Beef cattle may enter without negative caudal fold test, if they originate from an Accredited Free herd or state.

Negative brucellosis test is required, unless the cattle are:

• Steers or spayed heifers,
• Originating from a Certified Free herd or state, or
• Originating from a non-quarantined herd in a Class A state or area and less than 18 months of age.

Official individual identification is required for all exhibition cattle moving interstate.

Interstate Movement (Moving Into Florida)

An OCVI dated within 30 days of entry is required unless the cattle are:

• Consigned directly to an approved livestock market;
• Consigned directly to an approved tagging site;
• Consigned directly to a recognized slaughter facility; or
• Moving under a signed Commuter Herd Agreement.

Official individual identification is required and shall be listed on the certificate of veterinary inspection for the following classes of cattle and bison:

• All beef cattle 18 months of age and older,
• All dairy cattle and
• All exhibition or recreation event animals
• Unless exempted. Exemptions are:
  • Animals moving directly to slaughter,
  • Animals moving directly to an approved tagging site, and
  • Animals moving under a Commuter Herd Agreement.

Imported lactating dairy cattle must have a negative PCR for highly pathogenic avian influenza within seven days of importation per the Federal Order [ Adobe PDF Document ]. 

Trichomoniasis Testing Requirements

All non-virgin bulls and all bulls 18 months of age and older are required to have an official trichomoniasis test within 60 days prior to entry. 

Official trichomoniasis test: PCR collected by a Category II Accredited Veterinarian and submitted to an American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) accredited laboratory. 

Tested bulls must be officially identified, and official identification must be listed on trichomoniasis test results and OCVI. 

Bulls moving into Florida for exhibition and rodeo are exempt from testing provided that they are not allowed to commingle with female cattle and that they return to their state of origin immediately after exhibition. The OCVI must include the statement "Exhibition only, no commingling with female cattle, return to origin immediately following exhibition."

Bulls moving directly to slaughter at USDA-Recognized Slaughter Establishment are exempt from trichomoniasis testing. 

Bulls Moving to USDA-Approved Livestock Market: Two Options

1. Provide copy of official trichomoniasis test to Approved Livestock Market; bull can sell without restriction.
2. Untested bulls must be sold directly to slaughter at a USDA-Recognized Slaughter Establishment. These bulls must be clearly identified and announced prior to sale as selling only directly to slaughter. 

Bulls Moving Under a Commuter Herd Agreement

• All bulls in herds of origin and destination must be tested annually.
• Any bulls moving interstate, must not have commingled with trichomoniasis-positive bulls or cows that have been exposed to trichomoniasis-positive bulls.
• Bulls moving interstate under agreement, are exempt from 60-day timeline, but must have negative trichomoniasis test at annual herd test.

Tuberculosis Testing Requirements

A negative tuberculosis test within 60 days is required for all dairy cattle 6 months of age and older unless they originate from an Accredited Free herd in an Accredited Free state.

Accreditation number and last herd test date must be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection. Commuter herds are exempted from the testing requirement.

Beef cattle or bison 6 months of age or older originating from Accredited Free herds or states are exempted from tuberculosis testing. State status or herd accreditation number must be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

All other dairy and beef cattle or bison, 6 months of age or older, which are not otherwise exempt from negative tuberculosis test requirements, must test negative to an official tuberculosis test.

Rodeo bulls and roping steers 6 months of age and older must be accompanied by a negative tuberculosis test within 12 months of entry. Test date and results must be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

Cattle consigned directly to recognized slaughter establishments are exempted.

Brucellosis Testing Requirements

Cattle or bison originating from Class Free states or herds are exempt from brucellosis testing.

State status or herd certification number and date of last herd test must be written on the certificate of veterinary inspection.

Cattle or bison vaccinated for brucellosis and less than 18 months of age are exempted.

Cattle or bison consigned directly to a recognized slaughter establishment are exempted.

Rodeo bulls 18 months or older of age must have a negative brucellosis test within 12 months prior to entry.

All other cattle must have a negative brucellosis test within 30 days prior to importation.

Prior Permission Numbers

A prior permission number shall be required for all cattle or bison originating from:

• States or areas that are Non-Tuberculosis Accredited Free,
• States or areas that are Non-Brucellosis Class Free, or
• States listed as Vesicular Stomatitis Affected.

Permits can be obtained by calling (850) 410-0900. If permit is required, please review memo [ 219.1 kB ] .  

Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals

Cattle or bison infected with or exposed to tuberculosis or brucellosis or which are positive to an organism detection test for paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) may be imported only if consigned directly to a recognized slaughter establishment.

Such animals must be accompanied by a Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, VS Form 1-27, and must have a prior permission number. The prior permission number must be written on the Permit for Movement of Restricted Animals, VS Form 1-27.

Permits can be obtained by calling (850) 410-0900.

International Movement (Movement to or from Foreign Countries)

Visit our International Animal Movement Requirements webpage or the USDA website for international import and export requirements.

The USDA Area Office can be contacted at (352) 313-3060.

Prior permission numbers are required for all shipments.

Pre- and post-arrival testing requirements will be based on the country of origin and will be coordinated with USDA.