Livestock Biosecurity Requirements in South Dakota Every Producer Should Know

South Dakota’s agricultural economy depends on healthy livestock herds, and protecting that health starts with strong on-farm biosecurity. Whether you raise cattle, hogs, poultry, sheep, or goats, the rules governing how you prevent, detect, and respond to disease are not optional — they are embedded in state law and enforced by the South Dakota Animal Industry Board (SD AIB).

Understanding your obligations under South Dakota’s livestock biosecurity framework helps you avoid costly penalties, protect your herd’s health, and keep your operation running even when disease threats emerge nearby. This guide walks you through every major requirement — from registering your premises to disposing of carcasses properly.

What Is Livestock Biosecurity and Why It Matters in South Dakota

Biosecurity is defined as a system of management practices that prevent or greatly reduce the risk of introducing new diseases to a farm or stable. In South Dakota, this concept carries real regulatory weight. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board prevents the introduction of animal diseases in the state by requiring health certificates, permits, and tests on all imported animals; maintaining an adequate surveillance system for disease by testing blood and tissue samples for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis from cattle and swine slaughtered; and testing swine for Pseudorabies.

South Dakota’s livestock sector is among the most productive in the nation, making disease outbreaks particularly damaging. Highly contagious foreign animal diseases (FADs) such as Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and African Swine Fever can trigger stop-movement orders that halt the entire supply chain. An FMD or other highly contagious disease outbreak would require a heightened biosecurity plan to reduce spread, and in the event of an outbreak, it is the producer’s responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their livestock, focusing on their operation and what they can control.

Producers should develop and implement a biosecurity plan and complete a regular review of their farm’s biosecurity practices that focus both on cattle and human health and safety. Proactive implementation of biosecurity measures could reduce the risk of a disease outbreak in your herd, along with its negative economic impact, and protect animal agriculture in the state.

Zoonotic disease risk adds another layer of urgency. The SD Animal Industry Board encourages careful consideration for biosecurity and the potential for transmission of zoonotic diseases at events — zoonoses are diseases transmitted between animals and humans. Protecting your herd is, in many cases, also protecting your family and employees. You can learn more about wildlife-related disease vectors in South Dakota by reviewing resources on venomous animals in South Dakota and mosquitoes in South Dakota, both of which can play a role in pathogen transmission.

Premises Registration and Identification Requirements in South Dakota

Before you can fully participate in state and federal disease response programs, your operation must be registered and your animals must carry official identification. These two steps form the foundation of South Dakota’s livestock traceability system.

Premises Identification Number (PIN)

A premises is the primary geographic location where livestock are kept or handled. For non-producer participants, this is the location where the livestock-related activity occurs. This address must be a 911 (rural address) or physical address within South Dakota.

Obtaining a Premises Identification Number (PIN) is essential. A PIN is linked to a valid 911 address with matching coordinates that reflect the actual location of the animals, and it can be requested from the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. In the event that the owner or manager of the livestock is not the owner or manager of the land, SDAIB prefers that the owner or manager of the livestock apply for the PIN.

You may register more than one premises per account if they are operated as separate entities at different locations by the same business account and animals are not commingled between the locations. Premises of a different operation type with a distinct location should register separately.

SDAIB recommends that you periodically review and update your information to keep it as current as possible. Notify SDAIB when any changes to your information occur. You can complete an application and mail, fax, or email the completed form to the SD Animal Industry Board, or call to apply over the phone at (605) 773-3321.

Official Animal Identification

Individual animal identification is required for movement and health documentation. The accepted forms of official ID vary by species:

• Cattle: Brands are used in South Dakota for ownership and seasonal grazing movements. Backtags are used on animals going directly to slaughter. You can review the full brand inspection framework in our guide on brand inspection requirements in South Dakota.
• Sheep and Goats: Scrapie tags are used for ID on interstate certificates of veterinary inspection (ICVIs), test charts, and intrastate sales.
• Swine: USDA premises tags printed with a unique herd management number may be used as official ID on non-slaughter swine.
• Poultry: Producer participation in the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) allows poultry to move interstate through the production cycle as a group using VS Form 9-3.
• Horses: A detailed physical description on an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection and/or Coggins test chart — including any brands or lip tattoos — serves as official identification.

Biosecurity Plan Requirements in South Dakota

South Dakota does not mandate a written biosecurity plan for all livestock operations under routine conditions, but having one is strongly encouraged by the SD AIB — and it becomes a regulatory requirement the moment your operation participates in programs like the Secure Beef Supply (SBS) Plan or the Secure Pork Supply (SPS) Plan, or when a foreign animal disease outbreak is declared in your region.

Core Components of an Enhanced Biosecurity Plan

There are three major components of an enhanced biosecurity plan: a designated Biosecurity Manager who is the person responsible for the written plan and communicating with officials; a written operation-specific enhanced biosecurity plan that includes a map indicating the line of separation (LOS), access points for animal, people, and vehicle entry, cleaning and disinfection (C&D) stations, designated parking areas, and carcass movement pathways and disposal locations.

The plan should support the operation’s biosecurity, maintain herd health, and minimize economic losses. A contingency plan for periods of restricted animal movement is also required as part of these programs.

Secure Pork Supply Plan Enrollment

In South Dakota, you must have a licensed, accredited veterinarian complete the “Self-Assessment Checklist for Enhanced Pork Production Biosecurity: Animals Raised Indoors” and the “SD Secure Food Supply Plan Participant Enrollment Form.” Both of these documents are submitted to the SD AIB to complete the enrollment process in South Dakota.

Work closely with a licensed veterinarian to develop and review your Enhanced Biosecurity Plan and determine a plan for engaging employees on its implementation. Participation is voluntary under routine conditions, but enrollment prior to an outbreak significantly improves your ability to continue moving animals during a stop-movement event.

Reportable Disease Obligations

Owners are legally required to report any signs of high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) or other reportable diseases to the State Veterinarian under § 40-5-8. This obligation applies to all livestock species, not just poultry. The SD AIB maintains a Reportable Disease List that identifies every condition requiring mandatory notification. Contact the SD AIB at (605) 773-3321 to obtain the current list or visit the board’s website directly.

Animal Isolation and Movement Control Requirements in South Dakota

Controlling how and when animals move — both onto your premises and off of it — is one of the most effective biosecurity tools available to you. South Dakota enforces strict documentation requirements for all livestock entering the state and encourages rigorous on-farm isolation protocols.

Import Requirements for Incoming Livestock

Import permits are valid for 15 days. All livestock entering South Dakota must have an official Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) stating the name, address, and phone number of the consignor; name and address of the point of origination; name, physical address, and phone number of the consignee; and the species of animal, age, sex, breed, number, purpose of movement, and test results. The CVI must bear the signature, address, and phone number of the inspecting licensed accredited veterinarian.

No import permit is required on CVIs issued for domestic livestock using approved electronic systems such as GlobalVetLink, VSPS, VetSentry, and Sale Time Systems. All animals must be free of signs of infectious or contagious diseases.

Import permits can be obtained by calling the South Dakota Animal Industry Board Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM CST at 605-773-3321. After-hours permits are handled by an answering machine at the same number — leave the information requested and a permit number will be issued.

For cattle specifically, bulls must have a negative Trichomoniasis test — either one negative PCR or three negative cultures. Negative Trichomoniasis tests are valid until the bull has returned to breeding activity. Producers moving animals from neighboring states should also review brand inspection requirements in North Dakota to understand the documentation expected at the South Dakota border.

On-Farm Isolation Protocols

When new animals arrive at your operation, isolating them before commingling with your existing herd is a critical biosecurity step. Best practices supported by extension guidance include:

• Isolate newly purchased or returned animals for a minimum of 21 to 30 days in a separate pen or pasture with no nose-to-nose contact with resident animals.
• Do not cross-use shovels, feed buckets, brushes, or other equipment between the isolated animal and other livestock.
• Ensure workers clean their hands and boots and change clothes prior to entering other areas.
• Observe isolated animals daily for clinical signs of disease and consult your herd veterinarian before releasing them to the general population.

Keep movement records. FMD virus can spread via vehicles and equipment, even people’s clothing and footwear. Keeping track of movement in and out of the operation allows for accurate trace-back information. This recordkeeping obligation applies broadly to all livestock operations, not just those enrolled in formal supply plans.

Exhibition and Event Movement

All livestock, including horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, and hogs, originating from within South Dakota and those from other states imported for exhibition must be accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI). Health certificates must be issued by an accredited veterinarian within the 30 days prior to the event, and you should bring only healthy livestock to the event — those that have not been exposed to nor are showing symptoms of infectious, contagious, or communicable disease.

Visitor, Vehicle, and Equipment Sanitation Rules in South Dakota

People, vehicles, and equipment are among the most common pathways for disease introduction onto a livestock premises. South Dakota producers are expected to implement and enforce sanitation protocols for all three categories.

Visitor Protocols

Ask all visitors and service providers to employ biosecurity practices: contact visitors before they arrive at the farm, use signage, require disposable footwear or completely disinfected footwear, and utilize single-use coveralls or clean clothing that can be washed after a farm visit.

Maintain a visitor log that records the name, date, purpose of visit, and any other livestock premises the visitor has been to within the past 48 to 72 hours. This log becomes essential during a disease investigation. Maintain up-to-date, accurate records for animal health — including vaccination, antimicrobial treatment, and surgical procedures — as well as feed delivery and cattle transportation.

Vehicle Sanitation

Livestock trailers and transport vehicles are high-risk entry points for pathogens. The exterior of trucks and trailers should be washed and disinfected weekly at a minimum, or immediately after visiting a disease-positive site. A 24-hour drying period is critical to ensure any residual pathogens are eliminated before the vehicle is reassigned to another site.

The truck cab is often overlooked, but it is just as critical. Drivers should wipe down surfaces, wash floor mats, and disinfect the interior daily to ensure that any pathogens picked up during deliveries are contained and eliminated before the next route.

Producers moving animals between operations should review the trailer sanitation standards discussed in our guides on livestock trailer requirements in Nevada and livestock trailer requirements in Wisconsin for comparison with South Dakota’s expectations.

Equipment and Tool Sanitation

Clean and disinfect equipment and tools used on other farms prior to bringing them onto your farm. This includes veterinary instruments, artificial insemination equipment, pregnancy check equipment, and any shared farm machinery such as chutes, scales, and squeeze cages. Foot baths at barn entry points — filled with an approved disinfectant solution and changed regularly — provide an additional barrier against pathogen entry.

Wildlife and Pest Control Obligations in South Dakota

Wildlife and pests represent a persistent and often underestimated biosecurity threat on South Dakota livestock operations. Rodents, wild birds, feral swine, and deer can all introduce or amplify pathogens within your herd population.

Wildlife Exclusion

Preventing wildlife from accessing feed storage, water sources, and animal housing areas is a core biosecurity obligation. Specific steps include:

• Store feed in sealed, wildlife-proof containers or buildings to prevent contamination by rodents and wild birds.
• Repair gaps in barn walls, floors, and rooflines that allow rodent entry.
• Install bird netting or wire mesh over ventilation openings in poultry and swine facilities.
• Maintain a cleared perimeter around buildings to eliminate harborage areas for rodents.

Wild birds are a documented vector for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Owners are legally required to report any signs of high-pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) or other reportable diseases to the State Veterinarian under § 40-5-8. Preventing contact between your poultry and wild waterfowl is your first line of defense against HPAI introduction. South Dakota’s diverse wildlife population — including species covered in our resources on bats in South Dakota — can carry rabies and other zoonotic pathogens that affect livestock.

Pest Control Programs

A documented integrated pest management (IPM) program is considered a best practice by the SD AIB and is required as part of enhanced biosecurity plans under the Secure Supply programs. Your program should address:

• Rodents: Baiting stations placed around the perimeter of buildings, inspected and replenished on a scheduled basis.
• Insects: Fly control through manure management, insecticide applications, and larvicide treatment of standing water. Resources on caterpillars and moths in South Dakota can help you identify non-target insects to protect during pest control activities.
• Feral swine: Report feral swine sightings to the SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources (DANR), as they are a significant vector for diseases including pseudorabies and swine brucellosis.

Livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) are widely used on South Dakota ranches to deter predators and reduce wildlife intrusion. Learn about their role in herd protection in our overview of livestock guardian dogs.

Dead Animal Disposal Requirements in South Dakota

Proper carcass disposal is one of the most clearly regulated biosecurity obligations in South Dakota. Leaving dead animals on your premises without timely disposal is both a disease risk and a legal violation.

The 36-Hour Rule

Proper carcass disposal is crucial in preventing the spread of disease and protecting the environment. It is regulated by South Dakota law with oversight provided by the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. South Dakota law requires that animals who have died from non-communicable causes shall be properly disposed of within 36 hours by either burning, being buried to a depth of four feet, incorporated into a composting system, or disposed of by a licensed rendering plant.

Approved Disposal Methods

It can be difficult to either bury or compost dead animals in cold weather, thus an alternative option is incineration. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board recommends that you notify the local fire department prior to initiating incineration.

The incineration site should be a minimum of 1,000 feet from an occupied dwelling, propane tank, fuel tank, or other containers storing flammable substances. It should take place only during favorable weather conditions. The smoke plume should be monitored to ensure it does not impact neighbors, highway, or airport traffic. Do not use fuels such as tires, railroad ties, or treated wood to help fuel the fire.

Rendering Hauler Requirements

Vehicles hauling dead animal carcasses for rendering need to be inspected and permitted by the South Dakota Animal Industry Board. This helps ensure that transport vehicles prevent the spread of disease, utilize appropriate sanitation practices, and that carcasses are transported in leak-proof, covered containers. The South Dakota Animal Industry Board provides a list of rendering hauler services on its website.

The availability of rendering services may be limited in areas of South Dakota, especially western counties. If you are located in a remote area, plan your disposal strategy in advance and identify your primary and backup methods before an emergency arises.

Animals That Died from Communicable Diseases

Animals that died from or are suspected of dying from a reportable or highly contagious disease are subject to additional disposal requirements directed by the SD AIB and USDA APHIS. Do not dispose of such carcasses using standard methods until you have received guidance from the State Veterinarian. Individuals with questions on South Dakota’s carcass disposal laws should reach out to the South Dakota Animal Industry Board by phone at 605-773-3321 or by email as they develop a written plan for carcass disposal.

Staying compliant with South Dakota’s livestock biosecurity requirements protects more than your individual operation — it safeguards the entire state’s agricultural economy. From registering your premises with the SD AIB and maintaining official animal identification, to enforcing visitor sanitation protocols and disposing of carcasses within the legal 36-hour window, each requirement exists because disease moves fast and traceability saves herds. Work closely with your licensed, accredited veterinarian to keep your biosecurity plan current, review your records regularly, and contact the SD AIB at (605) 773-3321 whenever you have questions about your specific compliance obligations.