Animal Movement

Cattle & Bison: California

General import rules for all cattle:

• "Pending" official ID is not acceptable.
• Test results must be current and complete, not out-of-date or "pending."
• If an animal has more than one form of official identification, all the IDs must be listed on the certificate of veterinary inspection.
• The rules for American bison imports are identical to the rules for bovine beef breeds.
• If you wish to import animals from several different states, or if the animals have been in this state for less than 120 days, please call the import coordinator at (608) 224-4874.
• No M-branded bovines/cattle from Mexico may be imported to Wisconsin except directly to a slaughter facility.
• For bovines that are part of a rodeo, circus, or menagerie, please visit the Circuses, Rodeos, and Menageries page.
• For animals that are an exotic ruminant species, please visit the Exotic Species page.
• Out-of-state organizers and Wisconsin participants of consignment sales that may include animals from Michigan's Modified Accredited and Modified Accredited Advanced zones should visit the Michigan MA/MAA bovine import page or call the import coordinator at (608) 224-4874 to discuss tuberculosis testing and import requirements.
• If there is a current vesicular stomatitis diagnosis or quarantine in this state, visit our vesicular stomatitis page to learn about the special import requirements.

Breeding cattle OR Animals attending fairs/exhibitions

• Certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) with complete physical destination address required.
• Sexually intact animals of any age, including calves at side, must have at least one form of official identification.
• All cattle and bison of any age or sex including steers moving for rodeos, recreational events, shows, or exhibitions, must have one form of official identification.
• The following are official ID: 
• USDA metal ear tag number that are part of the National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) (starts with state 2-digit code, also known as “brite” tag)
• USDA Animal Identification Number tag (includes the visual number and/or RFID) - 15 digit number starting with 840
• Manufacturer-coded RFID tag - 15 digit number with the first three digits/letters USA, 980, 982 or 985 (accepted as ID when applied before March 11, 2015)
• American ID tag - 8 or 9 digit number prefaced with "USA"
• Dairy and Beef: TB test requirements: As long as the animals are not involved in any TB-positive or exposed herd investigations, all dairy and beef animals of any age must have one of the following:
  • Negative individual TB test within 60 days before the date of import, OR
  • If the animals originate from an accredited TB-free herd, individual TB tests are not required but the accreditation number and date of the last whole-herd TB test must be on the CVI.
• Animals from herds involved in any TB traceback or exposed herd investigations may not enter Wisconsin except for movement directly to slaughter until the investigation of the herd is completed and negative.
• No other tests, vaccinations, or statements required.
• No import permit required.
• Animals attending fairs or exhibitions may need to meet additional requirements. Contact the show organizers for more information.

Feeder cattle

• Certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) with complete physical destination address required.
• All feeder cattle of any age, including steers, must have official identification (see section above).
• TB test requirements: As long as the animals are not involved in any TB-positive or exposed herd investigations, all bovines of any age must have one of the following:
  • Negative individual TB test within 60 days before the date of import, OR
  • If the animals originate from an accredited TB-free herd, individual TB tests are not required but the accreditation number and date of the last whole-herd TB test must be on the CVI.
• Animals from herds involved in any TB traceback or exposed herd investigations may not enter Wisconsin except for movement directly to slaughter until the investigation of the herd is completed and negative.
• No other tests, vaccinations, or statements required.
• No import permit required.

Veal calves

• Certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) with complete physical destination address required.
• Veal calves must have official ID.
• No import permit required.
• Individual negative TB tests required (see below for exemptions).
• Exempt from TB test requirement if the animals are identified as veal calves and all of the following are met and the statements below are written on the CVI:
  • Animals are being imported solely for feeding prior to slaughter
  • They are less than 30 days old and identified as veal on the CVI
  • They will be confined to the first receiving premises until they are shipped to slaughter on a VS 1-27