Louisiana Administrative Code
Title 7 - AGRICULTURE AND ANIMALS
Part XXI - Animals and Animal Health
Chapter 17 - Alternative Livestock-White-Tailed Deer and Captive Cervids (Formerly Chapter 15)
Section XXI-1715 - Obligations of the Farm-Raising Licensee (Formerly§1513)

1. All farm-raised white-tailed deer shall be identified by means of an electronic implant implanted as follows:

2. All farm-raised alternative livestock other than farm-raised white-tailed deer shall be permanently and individually identified as follows:

3. Farm-raised alternative livestock, other than farm-raised white-tailed deer, that will be transported directly to a state or federally approved slaughter facility are exempt from this identification requirement.

4. Farm-raised alternative livestock placed on a farm prior to the effective date of these regulations, other than farm-raised white-tailed deer, are not required to be identified by a permanent ear tattoo and ear tag or electronic implant unless removed alive from the farm.

1. Each licensee shall maintain records, for not less than 60 months, of all sales, deaths, kills, trades, purchases, or transfers of any farm-raised alternative livestock. The records shall include:

2. Sellers, traders or transferors of farm-raised alternative livestock, any carcass, or any part thereof, shall furnish the purchaser or transferee with a bill of sale or letter of transfer as verification of the farm-raised status. A copy of the bill of sale shall be submitted to the department within 10 business days of the transaction.

3. The furnishing of any false information shall be a violation of these rules and regulations.

1. Any licensee shall conduct or shall have conducted a visual ground inspection of the enclosure system, including the fence, along the entire perimeter of the fenced area of the farm not less than weekly. An inspection shall be conducted immediately after any major storm or occurrence of any other force of nature that would cause a reasonable person to be concerned about the integrity of the enclosure system, including the fence.

2. Any licensee shall maintain the enclosure system, including the fence in good repair at all times. Good repair means that farm-raised alternative livestock are not able to leave and wild white-tailed deer are not able to enter through the enclosure system, including the fence, or otherwise.

3. Any licensee who discovers a breach or opening in the enclosure system or fence that would allow farm-raised alternative livestock to leave from or wild white-tailed deer to enter into the enclosed area shall notify, orally and in writing, the department of the breach or opening and the department shall notify LDWF within 12 hours.

4. In the event of such a breach or opening the licensee shall immediately close the breach or opening and make all reasonable efforts to determine if farm-raised alternative livestock left from or wild white-tailed deer entered into the area enclosed by the fence.

1. A licensee shall make all reasonable efforts to remove white-tailed deer from the farm prior to completion of the fencing and enclosure system of the farm. Removal of the white-tailed deer may include the following steps:

2. A licensee shall control the population of farm-raised alternative livestock on the farm.

3. A licensee shall make all efforts that a reasonable licensee would make to capture any farm-raised alternative livestock that escapes from the fenced area of the farm and to remove wild white-tailed deer that enters the fenced area of the farm.

4. A licensee shall, in writing, notify the department, at least 10 days prior to placing any alternative livestock on the farm if such alternative livestock was not listed on the original application or on any modification previously approved, in writing, by the department.

5. A licensee upon cessation of operations, or upon revocation or nonrenewal of the farm-raising license shall make all reasonable efforts to remove and dispose of all farm-raised alternative livestock on the farm in accordance with the farm operation plan submitted to and approved by the department or in accordance with specific written instructions issued by the department in the event that circumstances warrant removal and disposal of the farm-raised alternative livestock to be made in a manner different from the farm operation plan. Farm-raised alternative livestock on the farm may be transferred to another licensed farm or eradicated concurrent with one legal hunting season. If, at the end of one legal hunting season, farm-raised alternative livestock remain on the property, the licensee may request LDAF harvest tags as needed.

6. A licensee shall be responsible for ensuring that any individual who harvests or kills any farm-raised alternative livestock on the licensee's farm does so in accordance with these rules and regulations.

7. A licensee shall harvest or kill farm-raised alternative livestock in accordance with these rules and regulations.

8. A licensee shall provide that all farm-raised alternative livestock have the necessary health certificates and that the farm-raised alternative livestock meet all applicable health requirements.

9. A licensee shall allow authorized representatives of LDAF to inspect the farm at any time and all books and records at any reasonable time.

10. A licensee shall comply with all provisions of part I of chapter 19-A of title 3 of the Revised Statutes, these rules and regulations, the written farm operation plan submitted to and approved by the department and any quarantine.