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Import Requirements for Canadian Feeder Calves

(“bob” calves under 21 days)

Canadian Feeder or “Bob” Calves: Destination Inspection and Country Mark Verification

1. The importer must acquire pre-shipment approval from the USDA APHIS port of entry at least 7 

days in advance; the inspection must be at an APHIS approved destination facility.

2. Changes to inspection/crossing time must be made 7 or more days in advance. Shipments 

arriving an hour or more past their scheduled crossing time may be refused.

3. Shipping conveyances must arrive in sanitary and good working condition or will be refused by 

APHIS at the U.S. port of entry.

4. For transfer loads, the importer must provide appropriate equipment (transfer box/chute) for 

transfer of calves from one conveyance to another. APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) officials

will inspect as calves are transferred.

5. The exporter is required to follow all Canadian animal health and safety transport guidelines

(Livestock transport in Canada - Canadian Food Inspection Agency) and must provide 

documentation in their log books, if requested, of appropriate feeding intervals prior to arrival at 

the port of inspection for the calves due to their age and increased possibility of transport stress. 

Feeding within 4 hours of arrival at the port of entry is recommended.

6. Shipments arriving after 3pm at an approved destination facility will be held overnight for VS 

inspection the following day. Friday shipments arriving after 3pm will be held in isolation, fully 

separated from all other ruminants in the facility, over the weekend for VS inspection Monday. 

7. Calves deemed unfit for shipping by APHIS (poor condition, non-ambulatory, respiratory 

symptoms, no log entries for feeding during long transports) may result in the entire load being 

refused.

8. The importer is responsible for the disposition of refused calves or loads. Refused calves or 

loads returning to Canada will require a Canadian import permit, VS 1-27, US origin export 

certificate, and return under USDA seal. Local disposal of euthanized or dead calves will require 

State Animal Health Official (SAHO) concurrence. 

9. Importer/destination facility will incur user fees associated with Canadian feeder calf inspections 

($1.00/head + travel time +/- overtime + AV fees).

Destination Facility Approval Requirements

1. The inspection destination facility must be in accordance with all Federal laws and regulations,

including 9 CFR 93.401 through 93.418.

2. The facility mut be maintained in good repair, provide adequate individuals to maintain the 

facility, and provide for the proper care of each shipment of calves, including sufficient feed, 

potable water, housing, bedding, quarantine space, and associated maintenance of any related 

equipment. Feed and bedding must be vermin-proof, fresh, and unspoiled. Feed and bedding
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must not originate from a region affected with fever ticks, as identified in 9 CFR 72, or otherwise

further amended by APHIS.

3. Shipments must be housed biologically separate from each other. If the facility includes more 

than one calf holding area, the design must minimize cross-contamination of air between separate

lots.

4. The facility must provide and use separate isolation pens available for calves exhibiting signs of

illness.

5. The facility must provide APHIS personnel adequate examination space, along with a sufficient 

quantity of adequately trained individuals, with appropriate equipment or tools, to safely restrain

calves.

6. The facility must ensure all floors and walls that have contact with calves and their excrement or

discharges are impervious to moisture and able to withstand repeated cleaning and disinfecting 

without deteriorating. Floor and wall surfaces must be free of sharp edges that could injure

calves. Flooring must be skid resistant and provide adequate drainage.

7. The facility is required to clean and disinfect calf holding areas after each load has left the facility 

and before the next load arrives.

8. The facility must provide stalls of sufficient size to allow each animal to make normal postural 

adjustments and provide adequate freedom of movement.

9. Th facility must provide adequate lighting throughout the facility, facilitating the visual 

inspection of calves.

10. In the event a calf dies or must be euthanized while in quarantine, the owner/operator of the

facility must arrange for the proper disposal of the carcass in concurrence with APHIS and State 

Animal Health Officials (SAHOs). Imported calf illness or death must be immediately reported 

to APHIS and include official ID of the animals. Disposal is to be supervised by APHIS or 

SAHOs.

11. The facility must provide a telephone number that USDA/APHIS/VS can use for contact at any

time.

12. The facility must provide APHIS with a written contingency plan for emergencies that includes a 

designated accredited veterinarian. The written plan will be reviewed and must be approved by 

APHIS.

13. The facility must have a designated accredited veterinarian available to receive shipments 

arriving after 3pm and for emergencies to remove or apply seals and provide APHIS with that 

information for each shipment. Fees associated with the accredited veterinarian will be the 

responsibility of the destination facility.

14. The facility must maintain all records associated with calf shipments, including seal 

removal/application, mortalities, refusals, and official identification will be kept and available for 

APHIS review upon request for 5 years.
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15. The facility may be subject to quarterly inspection, including record review, by APHIS for 

continued approval.

16. The facility must provide equipment and personnel to apply the Canadian mark to any unmarked 

animals that are found. APHIS must verify the application of the mark and associated fees will 

be charged to the destination facility.

Contact for Questions:

USDA APHIS Veterinary Services

Strategy and Policy

Live Animal Imports

(301)851-3300, Option 2

vs.live.animal.import.export@usda.gov