Buying livestock is a significant investment and carries responsibilities for animal health, compliance and herd safety. Whether purchasing at a mart or online, careful preparation helps ensure a smooth transaction and protects your existing stock.
Please note: This guide is for general information only. It does not constitute legal advice, and we do not accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this guide.
Making the Purchase
Livestock marts remain popular, but many farmers now use online platforms to source animals. A wide range of pigs, cattle, sheep and goats may be available.
Regardless of how you buy, you must ensure:
The transaction complies with regulations.
All identification and documentation are correct.
The health of your existing herd is protected.
Buying Basics
Every bovine animal must have:
Two official ear tags.
A valid passport (identity document).
Always request and check the passport before completing a purchase. Ensure tag numbers match the documentation.
If possible, bring a veterinary professional with you to inspect the animals.
Ask the seller:
What vaccinations the animal has received.
What health treatments have been administered.
Research the Seller
Before purchasing:
Visit the farm where the animals are kept.
Assess the general condition of facilities and stock.
Ask other farmers about their experiences.
Use farming forums or word of mouth where appropriate.
Reputation and transparency are important indicators of a reliable seller.
Herd Health Considerations
Introducing new animals increases the risk of infectious disease entering your herd.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recommends purchasing multiple animals from a single source rather than single animals from multiple sources to reduce disease risk.
Infectious Disease Checks
It is illegal to sell cattle unless they have had a TB test within the previous 12 months.
Before purchase:
Check the animal’s passport or blue card.
Confirm TB and brucellosis testing compliance.
Ask the seller whether they operate management programmes for:
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
Johne’s Disease
Request supporting documentation where available.
Avoid buying new stock when you have vulnerable animals in your herd, such as pregnant heifers or newborn calves.
Pregnancy Status
The pregnancy status of livestock can be a source of dispute.
At marts, animals may be declared “not calved.”
If purchasing for specific purposes (for example, beef finishing), confirm:
Whether the animal has calved.
Whether the animal is currently in calf.
Always clarify pregnancy status before purchase.
Moving Livestock
Within Ireland, all bovine movements are tracked under the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS).
Requirements include:
Official ear tags.
Movement compliance documentation.
Registration on the national database.
CMMS compliance certificates must be issued even in private farm-to-farm sales.
Animals must appear on herd registers and computerised databases with complete identification details.
You can check the national database to confirm calf registration.
After You Buy
Even healthy-looking animals may carry disease risks.
Best practice includes:
Quarantine new animals for at least one month.
Keep new stock separate from feeding and calving areas.
Use quarantine facilities exclusively for new animals — not for sick stock.
Prevent direct contact between new and existing cattle.
Test new animals within three weeks of arrival and before administering vaccines or parasite treatments.
If purchasing pregnant animals:
Test for BVD.
Keep separate until both dam and calf are tested and cleared.
Only introduce animals to your main herd once all results have been received and evaluated.
Final Considerations
Buying livestock requires attention to:
Legal compliance
Documentation accuracy
Disease prevention
Biosecurity procedures
Careful preparation and thorough checks will help protect your investment and the long-term health of your herd.
Contact Us
If you have any further questions or would like to chat, please reach out to our Customer Support team.