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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 10Ch. 6Art. 5§ 21175 Shipper Stray Cattle Liability

§ 21175 Shipper Stray Cattle Liability

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 21175 Shipper Stray Cattle Liability

Key Takeaways

  • •If you're sending cows somewhere, you must separate any stray cows and tell the brand inspector about them before the cows are checked.
  • •If you don't do this and strays are shipped without being checked, you have to pay for their food and travel costs.
  • •If you forget to separate or tell about strays, you'll get fined: $50 for the first time, $100 for the second, $200 for the third, and $500 for the fourth or more times per cow.
  • •Each time you send cows to one place in a day counts as one mistake for fines.

Example

A farmer sends 10 cows to a market but forgets to separate 2 stray cows. The strays are found later without being checked.

The farmer must pay for the food and travel of those 2 stray cows. If this is the first time, the farmer also pays a $50 fine for each stray cow, so $100 total.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 21175 Shipper Stray Cattle Liability

The shipper or person in charge of cattle being shipped or offered for inspection is responsible for sorting out stray animals and identifying such strays to the brand inspector prior to inspection. (a) Any expense for feed and transportation incurred in the recovery of stray animals shipped without inspection, or shipped for inspection at destination, without the knowledge and consent of the owner, shall be recovered from the person responsible for the shipment. (b) Any person failing to cut out or identify stray animals which are shipped without inspection or shipped for inspection at destination shall pay a penalty upon a first violation of fifty dollars ($50) for each animal; upon a second violation within the same 12-month period, a penalty of one hundred dollars ($100) for each animal; upon a third violation within the same 12-month period, a penalty of two hundred dollars ($200) for each animal; and upon the fourth or subsequent violation within the same 12-month period, a penalty of five hundred dollars ($500) for each animal to the Bureau of Livestock Identification which is in addition to any other penalty provided by law. (c) For purposes of determining subsequent violations, each shipment of cattle to a single destination point in one calendar day constitutes one violation. (Amended by Stats. 1984, Ch. 558, Sec. 4.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

shipperstray animalsbrand inspectorpenaltyviolation

Related Statutes

  • § 14991 Commercial Feed Labeling Requirements
  • § 21172.5 Minimizing Brand Inspection Disruption
  • § 38945 Milk Product Registration Penalties
  • § 55523.1 License Applicant Financial Affidavit
  • § 55523.4 Financial Condition Reporting Requirement

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 21175.
View Official Source