Livestock Biosecurity Requirements in Texas: What Every Producer Needs to Know

Texas is one of the largest livestock-producing states in the nation, and keeping that industry healthy depends on every producer doing their part. Whether you raise cattle, goats, swine, poultry, or exotic livestock, biosecurity is not optional — it is a layered system of legal obligations and best practices that protects your herd, your neighbors’ herds, and the broader agricultural economy.

Understanding the livestock biosecurity requirements in Texas means knowing the rules set by the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC), the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). This guide walks you through every major compliance area — from premises registration and animal identification to dead animal disposal — so you can operate with confidence and stay on the right side of Texas law.

What Is Livestock Biosecurity and Why It Matters in Texas

Livestock biosecurity refers to the practices and protocols designed to prevent disease from entering your operation and from spreading once it is there. Biosecurity involves efforts designed to prevent introduction and spread of disease within populations, herds, or groups of animals. These efforts may be divided into those directed at the prevention of entry of new diseases into a group — called external biosecurity — and those directed at preventing spread of disease within a group, known as biocontainment or internal biosecurity.

In practical terms, biosecurity practices on livestock farms and ranches include sanitation, animal management, feed management, facility maintenance, manure handling, and disposal of dead animals. Texas producers face specific disease pressures that make these practices especially critical.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring, reportable disease affecting cattle, deer, livestock, exotic livestock, horses, swine, and other herbivores, and it can affect humans. In Texas, cases are most often confined to a triangular area bound by the towns of Uvalde, Ozona, and Eagle Pass, including portions of Crockett, Val Verde, Sutton, Edwards, Kinney, and Maverick Counties. Beyond anthrax, diseases like bovine tuberculosis, bovine viral diarrhea, and highly pathogenic avian influenza all have active regulatory frameworks in Texas.

The Texas Animal Health Commission regulates the entry of many livestock, poultry, and exotic livestock species into the state and for interstate shows and exhibitions. State and federal rules regarding animal movement, travel, entry and show requirements, and international import and export can be complex and involve more than one government agency, but the goal is always the same — to ensure the health of animals in the state.

If you raise livestock in Texas, you should also be aware of your obligations under disease reporting frameworks that parallel what other states require. Understanding how Texas compares helps you build a more complete compliance picture, especially if you move animals across state lines.

Premises Registration and Identification Requirements in Texas

Before you can move animals, apply for indemnity, or request movement permits during a disease outbreak, your operation needs to be registered with a recognized identification number. Texas uses two parallel systems for this purpose.

Premises Identification Numbers (PIN)

A national premises identification number (PIN) is a unique number permanently assigned to a physical address where livestock animals are located. All owner and premises information collected is stored and maintained in a federal database. Texas utilizes the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) provided Premises Management System to obtain a PIN from the federal allocator. A PIN consists of seven alphanumeric characters, beginning with two zeros.

PINs can be used by animal health officials to quickly and precisely identify where animals are located in the event of a disease or food safety emergency. PINs are required by producers to request movement permits during a disease outbreak or to apply for indemnity. If a business holds livestock or poultry in more than one location, each location should have a unique PIN.

To obtain a PIN in Texas, contact the TAHC Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Department at 1-800-550-8242 ext. 733.

Location Identification Numbers (LID)

Texas has a state system and process for issuing a location identifier (LID). A LID is a unique number permanently assigned to an owner’s contact and operation information, not a specific premises, and then stored in a state-administered database. The information collected is not shared with the federal system — only the LID number is reported to the federal system as a valid number.

Official Animal Identification

Official identification is fundamental to traceability and animal disease programs. Cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and other livestock are subject to official identification requirements as outlined by the USDA and TAHC regulations. Electronic identification (EID) and records for livestock movement can help safeguard animal health with rapid tracing of sick or exposed animals. Official EID are USDA-approved official tags that have a visible 15-digit number starting with 840 printed on them that matches the electronic chip inside the tag, are stamped with the US shield, and say “unlawful to remove.”

A key federal update affects how you handle cattle moving across state lines: the USDA published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 9, 2024, and the rule enhancing traceability is in effect beginning November 5, 2024. Additionally, as of January 1, 2026, all import certificates of veterinary inspection (CVIs) must be electronic.

Brand and Mark Registration

Texas also maintains a brand registration system for physical identification. The legislation mandates that livestock owners record their identification marks with the county clerk in the county where the animals are located. County clerks are required to maintain an electronic record of these identifiers and transmit copies to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) within 30 days of receipt.

A significant update took effect recently: the effective date of the new brand registration act began September 1, 2025, and requires TAHC, as soon as practicable after the effective date, to adopt the rules necessary to implement the changes. The act requires that each person who owns livestock — cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, or goats — has until no later than six months after September 1, 2031, and every 10th year thereafter, to record or re-record that person’s marks and brands with the county clerk, regardless of whether or not the marks or brands have been previously recorded.

For more on how other states handle livestock identification and movement documentation, see this overview of brand inspection requirements in Washington.

Biosecurity Plan Requirements in Texas

Texas does not mandate a single universal written biosecurity plan for all livestock producers, but certain programs and disease outbreak scenarios make having a documented plan a legal and practical necessity. The Texas Secure Food Supply (SFS) Program is the primary framework through which TAHC encourages and, in some circumstances, effectively requires biosecurity planning.

In the event of a foreign animal disease (FAD) outbreak involving highly contagious viruses, such as highly pathogenic avian influenza, state and federal officials may limit livestock movement to control disease spread. Producers with a Secure Food Supply (SFS) Plan will be better positioned to move animals under a movement permit and maintain business continuity within their industries because of enhanced biosecurity practices.

In other words, if a disease outbreak triggers movement restrictions in Texas, officials will immediately limit livestock movement to control disease spread, and producers with a Secure Food Supply Plan will be better positioned to move animals under a movement permit and maintain business continuity within their industries because of enhanced biosecurity practices.

What a Biosecurity Plan Should Cover

To be effective, a minimum biosecurity plan should address (1) isolating new animals, (2) isolating animals returning to the herd, (3) regulation of animal, human, and equipment movement, and (4) the design and implementation of cleaning and disinfection procedures directed at the reduction of pathogen loads.

A well-structured plan also covers the following elements:

• Animal introductions: quarantine procedures, health checks, required vaccinations or tests before merging with the herd.
• Animal movement on and off the farm: cleaning vehicles, obtaining movement permits if legally required, and routes to move animals that avoid contamination of clean areas.
• People and visitors: a sign-in process, farm entry requirements such as clean boots and no recent contact with other livestock, and areas that are off-limits.
• Vehicles and equipment: cleaning stations for machinery, restrictions on sharing equipment with other farms unless disinfected, and providing farm-only tools where possible.
• Feed and water management: sources of feed with quality checks, protecting feed storage from pests, and ensuring water sources are clean or treated.
• Feral animals and pests: pest control programs such as rodent baiting and fencing to exclude wildlife, as well as protocols for manure and deadstock disposal.

SFS plans do not have to be complex to be effective. What matters most is that the plan is written, current, and actually followed by everyone on your operation. Contact the TAHC SFS Plan Coordinator to get started or to have your existing plan reviewed.

Animal Isolation and Movement Control Requirements in Texas

Controlling when and how animals move — both onto and off your property — is one of the most direct ways to prevent disease introduction. Texas law and TAHC regulations set specific requirements for movement documentation, and best practices establish clear standards for quarantine and isolation.

Movement Permits and Certificates of Veterinary Inspection

Most livestock moving into Texas from other states require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI). All veterinarians licensed and accredited in Texas that utilize a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) for livestock, exotic livestock, domestic fowl, or exotic fowl shall use a current CVI issued or approved by the commission. As noted above, as of January 1, 2026, all import CVIs must be electronic.

Species-specific movement rules add additional layers. For example, equine intended for sale in Texas must have a valid CVI and current EIA test prior to entering the state, and Texas requires all equine entering Texas to obtain a valid certificate of veterinary inspection and EIA test (coggins) prior to entry. For poultry, live poultry entering Texas from an avian influenza affected state must have a negative test within 72 hours of entry and receive specific TAHC permission granting this movement.

Quarantine and Isolation of New or Returning Animals

Bringing new or returning animals onto a farm may introduce diseases to a livestock herd. Even borrowing a breeding animal may compromise the biosecurity of a farm. Isolation of sick, new, or returning animals will bolster your herd health and biosecurity programs.

Although the term quarantine applies to isolating new or returning animals that are not known to be ill, and isolation refers to keeping sick animals separate from healthy ones, in both cases a space is needed that meets the definition of an isolation area.

USDA-APHIS guidance, which TAHC aligns with, recommends that you isolate new, borrowed, or returning animals for at least 30 days. During that period, new stock should have no nose-to-nose contact with your resident herd and should ideally have separate water and feed. Use this time to observe for symptoms and run health tests.

If you cannot maintain a fully separate area, create a buffer zone of at least 6 feet between the isolation/quarantine areas and healthy livestock. The greater the distance between areas, the better.

Intrastate Movement Restrictions

Even within Texas, certain movement restrictions apply. A July 25, 2024 Executive Director Order declared intrastate movement restrictions of lactating dairy cattle to fairs, shows, or exhibitions. TAHC can also establish quarantines on infected or exposed premises. TAHC shall establish quarantines upon infected and exposed animals and premises, advise the owner or caretaker how to properly dispose of carcasses, and require such treatment and vaccination as may be necessary to control and eradicate the disease. TAHC will notify the Texas Department of Health of the quarantine. Unless otherwise specified by TAHC, a quarantine will be released 10 days after vaccination of the herd with a product approved by TAHC and after proper disposal of carcasses.

For producers who also transport animals across state lines, understanding trailer compliance requirements in neighboring states is equally important. See our guides on livestock trailer requirements in Nevada and livestock trailer requirements in Pennsylvania for comparison.

Visitor, Vehicle, and Equipment Sanitation Rules in Texas

Disease does not only travel with animals. People, vehicles, and equipment are equally capable of carrying pathogens from one operation to another. TAHC guidance and USDA-APHIS standards both address this risk directly, and Texas producers are expected to implement controls in each of these areas.

Visitor Access Controls

Only allow people on the farm who need to be there. Keep a record of all guests and provide disposable shoe covers to be worn while on the farm. Use only one entrance and exit for the farm.

The level of precaution you apply should be proportional to the visitor’s risk profile. In more normal times, consideration of relative risks allows development of practical approaches to visitors to the farm. Visitors from urban areas or others who have no livestock contact present very little risk of introducing disease to the farm. However, visitors who work with other livestock operations represent a much higher risk and should be required to follow stricter protocols.

For higher-risk visitors, ask visitors to wear freshly laundered outerwear and clean footwear. You should provide them with disposable plastic boots or clean rubber boots that can be disinfected, and coveralls as an added precaution. This provides your herd additional protection, but also helps prevent visitors from contaminating their clothing with germs from your farm.

Poultry producers face especially strict expectations. The TAHC advises that if you have birds at home, do not visit another farm, home, or facility that also has birds. If you must visit another premises, be sure to shower and put on clean clothes and shoes beforehand.

Vehicle Sanitation

Remember that vehicles can be vehicles for disease transmission. Before you drive down the road, consider where you are going. If you will be heading to the fair, another farm, or a live bird market, be sure your vehicle is clean and free of dirt, manure, and other organic material.

Spray disinfectant on all vehicles and tires before entering and exiting the farm. Vehicle tires and under carriages can harbor disease-causing germs, especially if they have come into direct contact with animal discharges. Many germs do not survive long outside the animal, but some do, and these sources can be critical for highly transmissible diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease.

Equipment Sanitation

Clean and disinfect equipment every day and do not borrow tools or equipment. Use a separate pair of boots and coveralls on the farm around your herd to avoid spreading germs.

Farm equipment that has come into contact with livestock or their bodily discharges can be a source of infections. Manure-hauling equipment should not be shared between farms without thorough cleaning and disinfection. On-farm use of front-end buckets and skid-steer loaders for both manure removal and feed delivery can spread diseases such as salmonella, leptospirosis, cryptosporidiosis, and Johne’s disease. Cleaning and disinfection of this equipment should be routine.

Feed storage sanitation is also part of this picture. Keep food storage areas inaccessible to rodents, birds, dogs, cats, and wildlife. Repeatedly check for and dispose of moldy or spoiled material in silos, bins, and bunks. Place or empty opened bags into containers with tight lids to protect them from pests and water.

Wildlife and Pest Control Obligations in Texas

Wild animals and pests are a persistent biosecurity challenge for Texas livestock producers. The state’s diverse wildlife — including deer, feral hogs, migratory birds, rodents, and raccoons — can serve as disease reservoirs and vectors. Managing their contact with your livestock is both a best practice and, in certain contexts, a regulatory obligation.

Wildlife as Disease Vectors

The presence of wild animals in the area does not constitute a certain risk to livestock. However, some diseases such as rabies, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis can be carried and spread by some species of wildlife and vermin such as rats and mice. Although it is nearly impossible to completely prevent the possible contact of wildlife with our livestock, we can make barnyards and surroundings unattractive to many species.

Wild birds are a particular concern for poultry operations. Eliminate opportunities for your birds to interact with wild birds. Wild waterfowl are known carriers of disease. The best way to avoid diseases that wildlife carry is to keep domestic animals separated from the wild.

Texas also has a well-documented tick eradication program. TAHC maintains quarantine lines and tick eradication areas, particularly in southern Texas counties along the Mexican border, to prevent the reintroduction of cattle fever ticks. If your operation falls within or near a tick eradication zone, additional movement and treatment requirements apply under TAHC Chapter 41.

Rodent and Pest Control

Rodents are a source of disease transmission. In livestock industries including dairy, beef, and poultry, mice have been implicated in the transmission of salmonellosis. Significantly, large numbers of rodents may be present long before signs of their presence — such as feces — become noticeable.

For dairy, poultry, and swine operations, it is very important to have a pest control program in place, at least for insects such as flies, rodents, and birds such as starlings.

Practical steps to reduce wildlife and pest pressure on your operation include:

• Keep grain spills or other potential sources of food cleaned up and unavailable to wildlife.
• Clean up old board piles or woodpiles and inspect buildings for possible hiding or denning areas. Inspect the haymow for evidence that cats, raccoons, or other animals are using the hay or straw for denning areas or places to defecate.
• Remove any standing water that can turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check and maintain fences. Replace bird netting if required.
• Maintain a comprehensive pest control program to manage rodents, insects, and other potential carriers of disease. Maintaining clean facilities and using physical or chemical means to reduce pest populations can help mitigate disease risks.

Livestock guardian dogs are another tool some Texas producers use to deter predatory wildlife from approaching herds. Learn more about how these animals work in our guide on facts about livestock guardian dogs.

For feral hog control — a significant wildlife biosecurity issue in Texas — contact USDA APHIS Wildlife Services or the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service for guidance on integrated pest management programs specific to your county.

Dead Animal Disposal Requirements in Texas

Proper disposal of livestock carcasses is one of the most tightly regulated areas of Texas biosecurity law. Improper disposal creates serious public health, environmental, and disease risks — and Texas law assigns both civil and criminal liability for violations.

Reporting Obligations

Before disposal, you may have a reporting obligation. Texas Agriculture Code 161.041 mandates that livestock owners report deaths suspected to be from contagious diseases to the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to prevent outbreaks. If an animal dies showing neurological signs or if disease is suspected, call a veterinarian before disposal if the animal exhibited neurological signs before death.

Approved Disposal Methods

Texas law allows several disposal methods regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and TAHC to prevent contamination and disease spread. The chosen method must comply with public health and safety standards.

For burial, burying animal remains is common but must meet state and local regulations. Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 330.171 requires burial sites to be at least 50 feet from wells, 100 feet from surface water, and deep enough — typically three feet — to prevent scavenging.

For incineration, burning carcasses is permitted if it complies with air quality regulations. The Texas Clean Air Act, enforced by the TCEQ, prohibits open burning unless an exemption applies. Texas Administrative Code Title 30, Part 1, Chapter 111.209 allows incineration in approved facilities that meet emissions standards. For livestock, TAHC may require incineration to prevent disease spread. On-site incinerators must be properly permitted and maintained. Unauthorized burning, such as open fires or failing to meet air quality standards, can result in fines.

For rendering, rendering converts animal remains into byproducts like animal feed or industrial materials. Texas Agriculture Code 144.041 requires only licensed facilities to process carcasses, with strict biosecurity measures for transportation. Rendering is preferred for large-scale livestock operations due to its environmental benefits.

Prohibited Actions and Penalties

Dumping a carcass in public waters, such as lakes or rivers, can lead to regulatory action under the Texas Water Code. Improper disposal can result in legal and financial consequences.

Texas Health and Safety Code 365.012 classifies violations as offenses ranging from a Class C misdemeanor to a state jail felony, depending on the severity. A first-time violation involving a single carcass typically results in a fine of up to $500. Larger-scale violations or those creating public health hazards can lead to fines up to $4,000, with repeat offenders facing jail time.

Livestock owners who fail to dispose of diseased animals properly may face administrative penalties from TAHC, including mandatory biosecurity measures.

Producers who want to understand how neighboring states handle these overlapping disease reporting and disposal obligations can also review our guides on livestock disease reporting in Colorado and livestock disease reporting in California. For Texas-specific regulatory questions that go beyond biosecurity, our guide on rabies vaccine requirements in Texas covers an important related compliance area for livestock and working dog owners alike.

Staying Compliant With Texas Livestock Biosecurity Requirements

Texas livestock biosecurity requirements span multiple agencies, statutes, and program frameworks — but the underlying logic is consistent throughout. Every rule, from premises registration to carcass disposal, exists to protect animal health, maintain market access, and preserve the economic foundation that livestock agriculture provides to the state.

Here is a quick-reference summary of your core obligations:

1. Register your premises with a PIN or LID through TAHC’s ADT Department and keep your contact information current.
2. Officially identify all livestock subject to USDA and TAHC identification requirements before movement, using approved EID tags or other official identification methods.
3. Record or re-record your marks and brands with your county clerk under the updated brand registration system that took effect September 1, 2025.
4. Develop a written biosecurity plan and enroll in the Texas Secure Food Supply Program to protect your ability to move animals during a disease outbreak.
5. Quarantine new and returning animals for at least 30 days and maintain physical separation from your resident herd during that period.
6. Obtain CVIs and movement permits as required for your species before moving animals into or out of Texas, and use only electronic CVIs as required since January 1, 2026.
7. Control visitor, vehicle, and equipment access with documented sanitation protocols and designated entry points.
8. Maintain an active pest and wildlife control program, particularly if you operate a dairy, poultry, or swine facility.
9. Dispose of carcasses promptly using an approved method that complies with TCEQ and TAHC standards, and report suspected disease deaths to TAHC before disposal.

For the most current requirements, always refer directly to Title 4, Part 2 of the Texas Administrative Code or contact the TAHC at 512-719-0777. Rules in this area are actively updated — including the recent changes to CVI requirements, traceability rules, and brand registration — so staying in direct contact with TAHC is the most reliable way to remain compliant.