Article 2. Public Salesyards of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 10. >> Chapter 8. >> Article 2.

Stockyards which are posted by the United States Department of Agriculture under the Packers and Stockyards Act (7 U.S.C., Sec. 181 et seq.), agricultural fairs, 4-H Clubs, Future Farmers, Junior Farmers, and associations which sponsor purebred cattle sales for their members are exempt from the license provisions of this article.

The license and bond provisions of this article do not apply to the sale by an auctioneer of cattle on the premises of the owner of the cattle whether or not such a sale includes the sale of cattle of other livestock owners in the vicinity of such premises. If, however, an animal which does not belong to the owner of the premises is auctioned, the auctioneer shall specifically designate the person that is the owner of the animal.

A person shall not engage in the business of selling cattle at a public salesyard unless he has done all of the following:
  (a) Obtained a license from the bureau to carry on such business at each such salesyard.
  (b) Executed for each such salesyard a bond to the state in the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000).

The bond required pursuant to Section 21733 is subject to the approval of the director and shall be conditioned as follows:
  (a) That the person shall not sell any cattle unless he is the owner of the cattle or is authorized to sell them by the owner.
  (b) That, if he does sell any cattle which he does not own without authorization from the owner, he shall, in addition to all other statutory penalties, pay the value of the animals.

Any amount which is recovered upon the bond shall be paid to the owner of the animal.

The bureau shall grant to every applicant that complies with this article and the regulations which are adopted pursuant to it, a separate license to operate each salesyard for the balance of the current calendar year upon the payment of a fee of one hundred dollars ($100) for each salesyard.

A permit shall be granted by the bureau to change the address or location of a previously licensed salesyard. No additional license fee or bond shall be collected for issuing a permit to change the address or location.

Each such license shall be renewed on or before the first day of each succeeding calendar year. The renewal fee is one hundred dollars ($100) for each salesyard.

Any person that is engaged in the business of selling cattle on consignment at any public stockyard, public salesyard, or public cattle sales market shall prepare a certificate of consignment on or before the day of a sale which contains all of the following:
  (a) The name and address of the owner.
  (b) The name and address of the consignee.
  (c) A description of each animal which shall indicate the sex, the breed and, in the case of branded animals, the brand and brand location.
  (d) Signature of the owner or his agent. The certificate of consignment shall be kept by the seller for a period of one year after the date of sale. Any such certificate shall be exhibited on the demand of any peace officer or any agent of the department.

Cattle shall not be released from a public stockyard, public salesyard, public cattle sales market, or any other public consignment sale or private auction sale unless they are accompanied by a brand inspection certificate or by a press-numbered bill of sale or a press-numbered certificate of sale that is issued and signed by a representative of the salesyard, as agents for the consignor.

The press-numbered bill of sale or press-numbered certificate of sale that is required pursuant to Section 21744 shall contain all of the following information on a form that is approved by the chief:
  (a) Date of sale.
  (b) Name and address of the buyer.
  (c) Description of each animal that is sold that includes its brands and brand location, sex, and breed of unbranded animals.
  (d) Origin and destination of the animals.
  (e) The name of the person conducting the sale. The press-numbered bill of sale or press-numbered certificate of sale shall be kept by the seller for a period of one year after the date of sale. Any such document shall be exhibited on the demand of any peace officer or any agent of the department.

The director may make regulations which govern the brand inspection of cattle at public salesyards, public stockyards and at private cattle auction sales. The regulations may provide a schedule of fees to cover the cost of inspection of cattle at such salesyards and stockyards, and private sales. In establishing the fee schedule the director shall take into consideration the brand inspection fees collected. The payment of the fees established by the director shall be the obligation of the operator of the salesyard, stockyard, or private sale and shall not be an added charge to the consignor or seller of the livestock.

It is unlawful for any person to sell cattle at a public salesyard or release cattle from public salesyards unless an inspector has made a brand inspection of animals which are consigned or shipped to such yard.

It is unlawful for any person to release any cattle which are sold at public auction unless the required brand inspection certificate has been prepared by the inspector in advance of the release of the cattle from the premises where the auction was conducted.

Except as otherwise provided in Section 21750, any person that engages as a business in the sale of cattle at a public salesyard without a license is, in addition to all other penalties, liable to a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25) and an additional penalty of one dollar ($1) per day for every day he has operated a public salesyard without a license.

Any public cattle salesyard operator that has had a previous license and continues to operate a public salesyard after the expiration of his license is not required to pay penalties pursuant to Section 21749 if he applies for a new license within 30 days after the expiration of his license.

(a) If cattle sold at a public auction have a dairy exemption number, the auctioneer shall announce at the sale that those cattle are being sold under the dairy exemption number provision and must go directly to slaughter.
  (b) Any person who buys cattle under a dairy exemption number at a public auction and fails to send those cattle directly to slaughter is guilty of a public offense punishable by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) per incident for the first violation, not exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250) per incident for a second violation, and not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) per incident for a third or subsequent violation. These penalties shall take effect on July 1, 2007. Prior to that date, the department shall notify salesyard managers and dairy producers at salesyards that it is a violation of law to neglect to send cattle covered by this section directly to slaughter, and issue oral or written warnings for noncompliance.