1. (1) General.

   1. (a) Except as provided in par. (b), a person may not keep livestock at a location in this state unless that location is registered under this section. There is no fee to register. A registration expires every third July 31 after July 31, 2013.

      Note: Once a person completes an initial registration, subsequent registrations will be relatively simple. The department will send the registrant a renewal application form (or directions on how to renew) prior to the renewal deadline. The renewal transaction may be conducted by phone, mail, online, or by e-mail if an e-mail address has been provided. There is no fee for an initial or renewal registration.

   2. (b) An individual may keep livestock at a location in this state without registering the location under par. (a), provided all of the following apply:

      1. 1. The individual files with the department an affidavit swearing or affirming that the individual is a member of, and follows, an established religion whose tenets and teachings include a sincerely held religious belief opposing registration of a livestock premises as required by s. 95.51 (2), Stats.
      2. 2. The individual provides the name and requested contact information of a religious leader who can verify that the religion’s tenets and teachings oppose registering a livestock premises.
      3. 3. The individual files the information required under par. (c).
      4. 4. If additional livestock types are obtained, the individual agrees to contact the department within 7 days to state what livestock are being kept.

   3. (c) In addition to the requirements under par. (b), an individual shall file with the department, on a form provided by the department, all the following information:

      1. 1. The individual’s complete name and spouse’s complete name, if married.
      2. 2. The individual’s mailing address.
      3. 3. The address where livestock are kept, if different than the mailing address.
      4. 4. The individual’s county of residence and the county of the livestock premises.
      5. 5. The individual’s telephone number, or if the individual does not own a telephone, the telephone number of a contact who can reach the individual in an emergency, if available.
      6. 6. The type of livestock operation.

      7. 7. The type of livestock or livestock carcasses kept on the premises.

         Note: A person may obtain a form from the department using the information below:

         Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

         2811 Agriculture Drive

         P.O. Box 8911

         Madison, WI 53708-8911

         Phone: (608) 224-4872

2. (2) Who must register.

   1. (a) If 2 or more persons are involved in keeping livestock at the same location, one of those persons shall register that location. A person is not required to register a location that is currently registered by another person. A premises registration by one person does not prevent other persons from keeping livestock on the registered premises.

      Note: For example, if Person A feeds and cares for livestock owned by Person B, on premises owned by Person C, any one of those persons may register the premises (the others need not). Likewise, if Person X pastures livestock on land that Person Y owns and also uses to pasture livestock, either person may register that pasture (the other need not).

   2. (b) A person may not register a premises that is currently registered by another person. The department may transfer a current registration from the current registrant to another person if the department finds that the other person is licensed to operate the premises under other applicable law, is more directly engaged in operating the premises, or can provide more definitive knowledge of livestock movements to and from the premises. The department shall notify the current registrant and give the current registrant a chance to comment before transferring a registration to another person.
   3. (c) A person who keeps livestock at multiple locations shall register each of those locations as a separate premises so each location has its own premises code.

3. (3) How to register. A person shall register in one of the following ways:

   1. (a) By applying on-line at https://www.datcp.wi.gov/.
   2. (b) By filing an application with the department on a form provided by the department.

   3. (c) By calling either the department or the department’s contract agent.

      Note: A person may obtain an application form from the department using the information below and may submit the completed form to the department at the following address:
      Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
      2811 Agriculture Drive
      PO Box 8911
      Madison, WI 53708-8911
      Phone: (608) 224-4872

4. (4) Information required. A registration application under sub. (3) shall include all of the following information:

   1. (a) The registrant’s legal name, and any trade names under which the registrant keeps livestock in this state.
   2. (b) The registrant’s mailing address.
   3. (bm) The registrant’s county.
   4. (c) The registrant’s telephone number.

   5. (d) The address of the primary premises location, including county.

      Note: See s. ATCP 17.01 (1). A street address is preferred.

   6. (f) The name and telephone number of at least one individual who has knowledge of livestock and livestock carcass movements to and from the premises.

   7. (g) The types of livestock operations conducted on the premises. The registrant shall designate one or more of the following:

      1. 1. Farm or production unit.
      2. 2. Market or livestock collection point.
      3. 3. Slaughter establishment.
      4. 4. Rendering or carcass collection point.
      5. 5. Clinic.
      6. 6. Livestock exhibition.
      7. 7. Quarantine facility.
      8. 8. Other. The registrant shall specify the type or types of operations.

   8. (h) The types of livestock or livestock carcasses kept on the premises. The registrant shall designate one or more of the following:

      1. 1. Bovine animals. The registrant shall indicate whether the bovine animals are beef cattle, dairy cattle, or bison.
      2. 2. Swine.
      3. 3. Sheep.
      4. 4. Goats.
      5. 5. Horses or other equine animals.
      6. 6. Farm-raised deer.
      7. 7. Poultry.
      8. 8. Llamas, alpacas, or other camelids.
      9. 9. Fish from a fish farm.
      10. 10. Other. The registrant shall specify the type or types of livestock.

5. (5) Department action on registration application.

   1. (a) The department shall grant or deny a registration application under sub. (3) within 30 days after the department receives a complete registration application.

      Note: The department will normally grant or deny an on-line application at the time of the on-line application. If the department grants an on-line application, the department will issue a printable electronic registration certificate to the applicant.

   2. (b) The department may deny a registration application if the application is incorrect or incomplete, or if the location identified in the application is currently registered. The department shall state the reason for the denial.
   3. (c) If the department denies an application because the location identified in the application is already registered, the department shall disclose to the applicant the premises code assigned to that registered location. The denial does not prevent the applicant from keeping livestock at the registered location or from registering other locations.

6. (6) Registration certificate.

   1. (a) Whenever the department grants a registration application under sub. (3), the department shall issue a registration certificate to the registrant. The registration certificate shall bear an expiration date that complies with sub. (1). The department shall issue the registration certificate in hard-copy or printable electronic form.

      Note: A person who registers on-line will normally receive a printable electronic registration certificate at the time of the on-line registration.

   2. (b) A registration certificate under par. (a) shall include a premises code assigned under sub. (7).
   3. (c) A registration certificate covers the location identified in the approved registration application.

7. (7) Premises code. Whenever the department grants a registration application under sub. (3), the department shall assign a unique code to the location identified in that application. The premises code shall be generated by the United States Department of Agriculture. A premises code may not be transferred to another location.

   Note: A premises code, once assigned to a location, normally continues with that location even if the registrant changes. If the premises location is subdivided among new registrants, the premises code assigned to that location will be retired, and a new premises code will be assigned to each new location created by the subdivision.

History

History: CR 04-103: cr. Register September 2005 No. 597, eff. 10-1-05; CR 06-009: am. (2) (c) 3. and 8. Register September 2006 No. 609, eff. 10-1-06; CR 07-107: am. (1), (2) (b), (4) (d), (5) (d) and (6) (a), r. and recr. (2) (c), (4) (h) 1. and 8. to 10, cr. (4) (bm), r. (4) (h) 11. and 12. Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; CR 12-024: renum. (1) to (1) (a) and am., cr. (1) (b), (c) Register May 2013 No. 689, eff. 6-1-13; CR 18-018: r. and recr. (2) (c), am. (3) (intro.), (a), (b), cr. (3) (c), r. (4) (e), am. (4) (f), (h) 9., (5) (a), (b), (c), r. (5) (d), am. (6) (a), (c), r. (6) (d), am. (7), Register July 2019 No. 763, eff. 8-1-19.