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

Vermont livestock producers face one of the most consequential compliance responsibilities in agriculture: maintaining effective biosecurity on their operations. A single disease introduction can spread through an entire herd, trigger state quarantine orders, and close off interstate and international markets in a matter of days.

In this guide, you will find a section-by-section breakdown of livestock biosecurity requirements in Vermont — covering premises registration, animal identification, isolation protocols, sanitation rules, wildlife management, and lawful carcass disposal. Whether you raise dairy cattle, swine, poultry, or small ruminants, understanding these obligations protects your animals, your neighbors, and Vermont’s broader agricultural economy.

What Is Livestock Biosecurity and Why It Matters in Vermont

Biosecurity refers to a set of preventive measures designed to reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases, quarantined pests, invasive species, and living modified organisms — and by implementing proper on-farm biosecurity measures, producers can protect livestock and other agricultural assets. It is not a single action but a continuous management mindset applied across every aspect of your farm operation.

Biosecurity is a mindset that farm managers maintain in order to prevent the introduction of new pathogens into a herd and to limit the spread of already established pathogens within a herd. Since each farm is different, there is no “one size fits all” biosecurity plan. This means your approach must be tailored to your species, facilities, and the specific disease risks present in your region.

Vermont’s agricultural economy depends heavily on the health of its livestock sector. The Animal Health Section of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets protects the health and welfare of Vermonters and their livestock and poultry by advancing a safe and secure food supply. Through its technical assistance and inspection programs, the Section provides outreach to producers, processors, and consumers on appropriate animal agricultural practices that assure the health and humane treatment of livestock and compliance with best practices, laws, and regulations.

Vermont is considered to be Tuberculosis free. Periodically, infection is detected in herds in other states, and the movement of any infected animals into Vermont poses a risk to Vermont’s livestock herd and citizens. This illustrates exactly why proactive biosecurity compliance is not optional — it is the primary defense for maintaining Vermont’s disease-free status and the market access that comes with it.

Many of the best management practices that producers can implement to ensure proper biosecurity on farms are easy and inexpensive to maintain. Questions pertaining to on-farm biosecurity practices and related emergency preparedness issues should be directed to the Animal Health Office at (802) 828-2421.

Premises Registration and Identification Requirements in Vermont

Two distinct but related requirements apply to Vermont livestock operations before any animal ever leaves your property: premises registration and official animal identification. Both are foundational to Vermont’s animal disease traceability (ADT) program.

Premises Identification (PIN)

Premises identification is a key component of animal disease traceability. The number links livestock and poultry locations to a national database for better management of emergencies and livestock traceability. Registering your premises assigns your farm a unique Premises Identification Number (PIN) that can be used to rapidly locate and contact you during a disease event.

The benefits to livestock and poultry owners with a PIN include rapid notification of livestock and poultry stakeholders during an emergency, the ability to purchase commercially available 840 ID tags, and preparation for animal health and food safety emergencies. You can submit a premises registration application through the VAAFM Animal Health Section or by calling (802) 828-2421.

Since 2010, USAHerds has been VAAFM’s repository for all ADT data. Use of this or an equivalent software platform to house and share ADT data in an easily searchable electronic format is expected to continue. Vermont uses the USAHerds system to manage premises registrations and import permits, so your PIN is directly connected to this traceability infrastructure.

Official Animal Identification

State law requires all livestock transported within the State to be officially identified prior to leaving the property of origin, regardless of the reason for movement or duration of absence from the property. Livestock include dairy and beef cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and camelids.

Examples of livestock movement within Vermont that this requirement applies to include transport to a slaughter facility, movement to a new farm location, and transport to a fair or exhibit. By having an official ear tag applied to your animal, there is a greater likelihood that your animal’s traceability is maintained during transport, marketing, and slaughter. Additionally, applying official ID to your livestock before they leave your farm ensures that drug residues are not erroneously attributed to you and that the authenticity of any marketing claims you are making can be readily verified.

Official identification is required for intra- and interstate movement of livestock and poultry. Metal ear tags (NUES tags) and 840 radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags are commonly used in Vermont by livestock owners to meet these requirements. For many years, VAAFM has provided metal NUES tags at no charge to farmers and veterinarians. RFID tags are now also available to Vermont farmers and veterinarians at no charge for use in cattle.

For producers who also handle animals coming into Vermont, licensed dealers and transporters are obligated to ensure that all livestock entering Vermont under their care is accompanied by a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection within 30 days prior to importation and a permit — except horses — obtained by contacting the Animal Health Office. You can learn more about related livestock movement compliance through resources on livestock disease reporting in Colorado and livestock disease reporting in California for comparison with other state systems.

Biosecurity Plan Requirements in Vermont

Vermont does not mandate a single universal written biosecurity plan for all farms in the way that some states do for specific sectors. However, several categories of operations face written plan obligations, and all producers are expected to operate in accordance with science-based biosecurity principles enforced through VAAFM’s inspection and compliance authority.

Poultry and Commercial Slaughter Facilities

All commercial poultry slaughter establishments licensed in the state of Vermont are required to meet the requirements of 6 V.S.A. Chapter 201 and 204, the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA), and all implementing regulations. Upon application for a Vermont license as a commercial slaughter facility, you are required to submit a written plan for handling poultry in a humane manner for review and approval by the Vermont Secretary of Agriculture.

Biosecurity refers to procedures used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease-causing organisms in poultry flocks. Initiating and maintaining a biosecurity program is an important aspect of a poultry health maintenance program. It is important to institute some aspect of a biosecurity program in order to ensure a healthy flock of birds. The primary method of spreading disease-causing microorganisms between poultry flocks is the use of contaminated equipment or exposure to contaminated clothing and footwear of humans.

General Farm Biosecurity Planning

For all other livestock operations, VAAFM strongly encourages — and in practice expects — producers to maintain documented biosecurity protocols. Science-based best practices include controlled introduction of new stock onto a site, cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles, all-in all-out production, and the control of vectors such as rodents.

You can request a free biosecurity kit directly from the VAAFM Animal Health Section by calling (802) 828-2421. This kit provides species-specific guidance you can use to build or refine your written farm biosecurity plan. For context on how other states approach formal biosecurity documentation, see resources on livestock disease reporting in Florida and livestock disease reporting in Illinois.

Animal Isolation and Movement Control Requirements in Vermont

Controlling how and when animals move onto, across, and off your property is one of the most effective biosecurity tools available. Vermont law and VAAFM guidance establish clear expectations for both incoming and outgoing animal movement.

Isolation of New and Returning Animals

Regardless of the livestock species, the most common way contagious diseases are introduced is by adding animals to the herd, typically replacement breeding stock. Vermont’s biosecurity guidance strongly emphasizes a quarantine or isolation period for all newly acquired animals before they are commingled with your existing herd.

The standard recommendation for most species is a minimum 30-day isolation period in a separate pen or pasture with no nose-to-nose contact with resident animals. During this period, you should observe the new animals daily for signs of illness, complete any required testing, and consult your accredited veterinarian before integration.

Implement biosecurity practices on your property that allow for the quarantine of new poultry and segregation of sick birds. This principle applies equally to cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and camelids.

Import Permit and Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) Requirements

Thirty-day ICVIs and import permits are required for entry of all livestock into Vermont, except for horses, which are exempt from the import permit requirement, and exhibition livestock imported for certain purposes under limited circumstances. You must obtain an import permit through the USAHerds system before bringing covered species into the state.

The Animal Health Section of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets works with private accredited veterinarians to monitor for the presence of Tuberculosis (TB) in Vermont’s livestock herd through targeted testing of susceptible animals prior to interstate movement. TB testing compliance is a specific condition of many import permits for cattle.

For a deeper look at how livestock trailer and transport compliance interacts with movement requirements in neighboring states, see the guides on livestock trailer requirements in Pennsylvania and livestock trailer requirements in Wisconsin.

Visitor, Vehicle, and Equipment Sanitation Rules in Vermont

Disease does not travel only on animals. Contaminated footwear, clothing, vehicles, and shared equipment are significant pathways for pathogen introduction onto your farm. Vermont’s biosecurity framework places specific obligations on producers to manage these vectors.

Human Traffic Controls

Zoonotic disease can also be spread by wild animals, birds, or insects that are present on the farm. Regular, frequent hand washing is the most important and effective way to prevent transmission of most common farm zoonoses. Beyond hand washing, you should establish a clear visitor policy that limits access to animal housing areas and requires all visitors — including veterinarians, feed delivery personnel, and farm advisors — to use dedicated farm footwear or disposable boot covers.

Keeping human food and drink away from animal areas, practicing proper sanitation, good biosecurity practices, and a pest control program will help reduce the likelihood of disease on the farm. Post visible signage at all farm entry points stating your biosecurity requirements for visitors.

• Require all visitors to sign a farm visitor log with date, name, and most recent farm visited
• Provide a boot wash station with an approved disinfectant solution at the entrance to each animal housing area
• Require dedicated coveralls or disposable Tyvek suits for anyone entering high-risk areas such as farrowing rooms or poultry houses
• Ask veterinarians and service providers to confirm they have not visited a farm with a known disease outbreak within the prior 48 to 72 hours

Vehicle and Equipment Sanitation

Several science-based best practices have been identified, including cleaning and disinfection of transport vehicles. This obligation applies to your own vehicles and to any third-party vehicles entering your property, including livestock haulers, feed trucks, and rendering vehicles.

Establish a designated vehicle entry point where arriving vehicles can be inspected and, where practical, washed and disinfected before proceeding to animal areas. At minimum, require that wheel wells, undercarriages, and load compartments of livestock trailers be cleaned and disinfected between loads. Maintain records of cleaning and disinfection activities as part of your biosecurity documentation.

For additional perspective on how vehicle and transport rules interact with biosecurity across state lines, see the guide on livestock trailer requirements in Nevada.

Wildlife and Pest Control Obligations in Vermont

Vermont’s landscape — forests, wetlands, and agricultural land in close proximity — creates significant wildlife pressure on livestock operations. Managing this interface is both a biosecurity obligation and, in certain situations, a legal requirement.

Wildlife as a Disease Vector

Feral swine have the potential for spreading serious disease to domestic livestock, may cause devastating destruction to natural ecosystems, and pose a threat to human health and safety. Vermont law specifically authorizes the Department of Fish and Wildlife to destroy or euthanize feral swine under 10 V.S.A. § 4709(f), reflecting the seriousness with which the state treats this threat.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is expected to continue throughout the United States. Given the continued high risk of HPAI to poultry and livestock, no waterfowl such as ducks, geese, or swans may be shown or exhibited during the 2025 Vermont fair season, regardless of origin. Wild migratory waterfowl are a primary vector for HPAI transmission to domestic poultry flocks, making exclusion fencing and covered housing essential biosecurity tools for poultry producers.

Vermont’s diverse wildlife — including foxes, fishers, and hawks — necessitates robust biosecurity. White-tailed deer, raccoons, and wild turkeys also pose disease risks to cattle, sheep, and goats through shared fence lines and feed contamination.

Pest Control Requirements

Rodents are explicitly identified in Vermont’s biosecurity guidance as a key vector requiring active control. Science-based best practices include the control of vectors such as rodents. You are expected to maintain an active, documented rodent control program on your operation.

Practical pest control measures that align with VAAFM expectations include:

• Store all feed in rodent-proof containers or sealed bins
• Remove brush, debris piles, and other harborage areas within 50 feet of animal housing
• Use bait stations placed along exterior walls of all barns and feed storage facilities
• Inspect and document bait station activity monthly
• Maintain tight-fitting doors and screens on all ventilation openings in poultry houses
• Exclude wild birds from feed storage areas using netting or enclosed structures

Livestock guardian animals can also play a role in deterring wildlife from pastures and perimeter areas. For background on this approach, see facts about livestock guardian dogs and how they integrate into a broader farm security plan.

Dead Animal Disposal Requirements in Vermont

Proper carcass disposal is both a biosecurity imperative and a legal obligation in Vermont. Leaving animal mortalities unmanaged creates disease transmission risks, attracts wildlife, and can result in water quality violations under the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs).

Legal Disposal Methods

Proper management and disposal of on-farm mortalities is the responsibility of every Vermont producer, and farmers should strive to develop effective strategies for managing this issue. The four legal methods of disposal are mortality composting, rendering, incineration, and burial.

Composting and burial must be managed in accordance with the Agency of Agriculture’s Acceptable Agricultural Practices regulations. You cannot simply bury a carcass anywhere on your property — specific setback distances from water sources, property lines, and wells must be observed.

Composting

For smaller animals such as poultry, pigs, and sheep, a properly constructed covered structure is recommended. For a few larger animals such as cattle and horses, a freestanding pile on a well-drained or improved surface is adequate. Composting must achieve sufficient internal temperatures to destroy pathogens and must be managed to prevent leachate from reaching surface water or groundwater.

Timing and Water Quality Requirements

The Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs) lay out basic requirements for the location of composting or burial sites for livestock mortalities. Animal mortalities must be properly stored, handled, and disposed of within 48 hours, so as to minimize adverse water quality impacts. This 48-hour window applies year-round and is strictly enforced.

The RAPs establish nutrient, manure, and waste storage standards and establish requirements for vegetated buffer zones and livestock exclusion from surface water. Disposal sites must respect these buffer zone requirements, which also govern the placement of composting structures and burial pits relative to streams, ponds, and drainage ways.

If you operate in multiple states or transport animals across state lines, understanding how neighboring states handle disease reporting and disposal requirements is equally important. The guides on livestock disease reporting in Colorado and livestock disease reporting in Florida offer useful comparative context. Vermont producers who also hold fishing licenses or manage multi-use land may find the fishing license requirements in Vermont guide useful for navigating the state’s broader agricultural and natural resource regulatory framework.

Biosecurity compliance in Vermont is ultimately a shared responsibility — between individual producers, VAAFM, accredited veterinarians, and the broader agricultural community. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets’ Animal Health Office works collaboratively with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Region 1 office and the other New England states to maintain current emergency contact information for Vermont producers and to assist farmers with the implementation of adequate on-farm biosecurity measures. Taking advantage of the free resources, biosecurity kits, and direct consultation the Agency offers is one of the most practical steps you can take to bring your operation into full compliance and keep it there.