What you need to know about selling your livestock

We gave a soft whistle when we read an article in the Red Meat Organisation (RPO) newsletter last week.

It concerned livestock theft, which is managed in terms of the Livestock Theft Act, 1959 (Act no. 57 of 1959), and the Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act no. 6 of 2002). The article gave as its source Adv PW Coetzer of the National Prosecuting Authority.

For those who may not be familiar with the matter, the sale or disposal of livestock involves the following:

1. No one may sell livestock or dispose of it in any way if the registered identification mark of the owner does not appear on it
2. Receipt of livestock without an identification mark as required by law may constitute the receipt of suspected stolen livestock; it is an offense and may result in immediate arrest
3. The seller must provide the buyer/recipient with a section 6 document, which is called a document of identification
4. No one may accept delivery of livestock without obtaining a document of identification at the time of delivery, and such document must contain all the information specified below; without it, it will not be considered a document of identification
5. The document of identification must contain the following information, and it is the responsibility of the seller to ensure that all the information is provided in the document
   1. Full names and address of the seller and, if the livestock is sold on behalf of the seller, also the full names and address of the person authorized to sell the livestock in this way.
   2. Full names and address of the recipient of such stock.
   3. The date the livestock was sold or disposed of.
   4. Certification that the livestock is the property of the seller or that the representative of the seller is authorised by the seller to sell or dispose of such livestock.
   5. The breed of the livestock or the type of livestock.
   6. The number of livestock.
   7. The branding, earmark or tattoo on the livestock.
   8. If the livestock is not marked, then the gender, number of animals of each gender and the colour of the livestock.
   9. Full names and address of the seller and, if the livestock is sold on behalf of the seller
6. The document of identification must be kept for at least one year
7. Any person may, within the period stated above, demand inspection of such document of identification
8. The police can order an owner of livestock to clearly mark his or her livestock if, in the opinion of the police officer, the identification mark is invisible or unclear. The owner must comply with such order within 14 days
9. It is recommended that the owner keep proof of his or her registered identification mark with him or her and show it at the request of the SAPS.

Failure to comply with any of the above provisions may lead to the imposition of a fine or to arrest and prosecution in a criminal court.

Further reference:

• The Agribook “Animal husbandry” page covers issues facing those with livestock. Livestock theft is one of them.
• Read the article “NPA sheds light on livestock theft” at https://rpo.co.za/nvg-werp-lig-op-veediefstal-npa-sheds-light-on-livestock-theft/

Photo by Subtle Cinematics on Unsplash