Before you buy or sell

Livestock information.

Buying an animal is not buying a parcel. These are the things that catch people out.

Health documentation

Moving pigs across a state line generally requires a certificate of veterinary inspection, and often official identification. Requirements differ by state and change. Confirm current rules with the destination state’s animal health office before travel. HogMatch does not issue, verify or hold health documentation.

Identification

Ear notches, tags and premises identification numbers may all be required depending on the sale and the destination. Agree in advance who supplies what.

Transport

Transport is arranged directly between buyer and seller. Consider distance, weather, ventilation, bedding, water, and the age and weight of the animal. Heat is the most common avoidable cause of loss in transit.

Biosecurity

Isolate newly arrived animals from your existing stock for a period appropriate to your operation. Talk to your veterinarian about a sensible quarantine and vaccination plan before the animal arrives, not after.

Show eligibility

Show rules on breed registration, ownership deadlines, weight ranges and exhibitor eligibility are set by each show, not by HogMatch. Check the rulebook for your target show before buying.