Livestock Inspection and Transportation

Travel Documentation Required for Livestock in Saskatchewan

Livestock transportation is regulated provincially through The Animal Production Act and The Animal Production Regulations. Livestock Services of Saskatchewan (LSS) is a not-for-profit organization that has been delegated the authorities to provide manifests and inspection services for cattle and horses in Saskatchewan.

Documentation is required for transporting livestock species as outlined in the legislation, in the form of manifests or inspection certificates. These provincial documents are not required when:

• The livestock are being transported from outside of Saskatchewan and the transporter has a document comparable to a livestock manifest or inspection certificate issued by the jurisdiction of origin.
• The livestock are transported to or from a veterinary clinic.
• The livestock are transported between properties:
  • That are located within Saskatchewan
  • That are each owned or fully controlled, including by way of lease agreement, by the owner of the livestock
  • In which the animals do not intermingle with animals belonging to another livestock owner

This webpage is not a substitute for the legislation.

Livestock Manifest

A livestock manifest is a provincial transportation document that is completed by the producer and signed by the owner or owner’s agent and includes:

• The date the livestock are to be loaded or shipped
• The name and address of the owner or owner’s agent and contributor
• Species, sex and number of livestock
• If the livestock are cattle or horses, the colour description of the livestock
• If applicable, the description and location of all brands and other marks of ownership on each animal
• Premises Identification (PID) numbers of places of the livestock’s origin and destination
• Where applicable, a declaration of security interest for cattle and horses
• The name and address of the vehicle owner and licence numbers of vehicle and trailer

A manifest is required for:

• Livestock transport within Saskatchewan where an inspection isn’t necessary (for example, to and from a pasture where animals are comingled or to a sale)
• Livestock transported to an inspection site out of province (for example, an auction market in Alberta or Manitoba where cattle or horses will be inspected upon arrival)

A livestock manifest is not required

• When livestock are transported into Saskatchewan accompanied by a document comparable to a livestock manifest or inspection certificate issued by the jurisdiction of origin
• When livestock have a valid inspection certificate issued by LSS that accompanies the animals during transport

There is no cost to producers for paper livestock manifests and they are available through LSS.

An electronic version of a livestock manifest is available through MyLivestock, which complies with provincial and federal livestock transportation requirements.

Inspection of Cattle and Horses

An inspection of cattle or horses by a livestock inspector verifies ownership through examination of the animals, brands or other identifiers and any other relevant documentation.

An inspection is required:

• Before a sale
• For shipment out of Saskatchewan unless the livestock are delivered to a livestock market that is an inspection site in Alberta or to a stockyard in Manitoba that collects statutory deductions from Saskatchewan owners
• For movement into a feedlot within Saskatchewan

Inspection certificates can be issued following livestock inspection. There are two types of inspection certificates for cattle and horses:

1. Single use is valid for seven days after issuance by LSS (this is the document for one-way, one-time movement of inspected animals). There is no fee associated, beyond the initial inspection fee of $3.25 per head.
2. Annual is valid for multiple transportation events for a full year from the day it is issued (this is useful for recreation and competition purposes, such as rodeos and exhibitions where individual cattle or horses are moved multiple times a year). The fee is $8.50 plus $3.25 per head for inspection.

Inspection fees are:

• $3.25 per head for all legislated inspections
• $65 per hour (plus mileage, meal and accommodation at public service of Saskatchewan rates) for specially requested inspection

For more information on the requirements when transporting cattle and horses, contact Livestock Services of Saskatchewan by phone at 306-546-5086, by emailing brands@lssc.ca or visit Livestock Services of Saskatchewan.

For additional details on the electronic manifest, visit MyLivestock’s website.

Note: additional federal requirements exist for transporting livestock. Learn more about federal requirements at Humane Transport and Animal Welfare.