The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has outlined the requirements that must be fulfilled for a person to deal less than 100 cattle.

Minister Heydon was asked about the requirements by Independent TD, Carol Nolan in a parliamentary question this month (July 2025).

According to the minister, any person owning livestock must apply for a herd number from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM).

The process for receiving a herd number includes an assessment of sustainability against a number of criteria, including biosecurity, suitability of the establishment in relation to the numbers and types of animals proposed to be held, handling facilities, isolation facilities, and waste management.

Minister Heydon highlighted that all herdowners must comply with the relevant rules and regulations regarding animal welfare, identification and disease control appropriate to their production model.

The minister also explained that a dealer is classified as a natural or legal person who buys and sells animals commercially, either directly or indirectly, who has regular turnover of these animals, and who within a maximum of 30 days of buying animals, resells them or relocates them from the first premises to other premises not within his or her ownership.

"Regular turnover" refers to the buying and reselling, within 30 days, of more than 100 bovine, or more than 100 swine animals in any 12-month period.

Minister Heydon said that a dealer must be registered with DAFM by applying through their regional veterinary office.

According to Minister Heydon, a dealer premises must comply with the same conditions as those relating to a herd number, and dealers must abide by the same rules and regulations regarding animal welfare, identification, and disease control as other herds.

An additional condition for a dealer number is complete separation between the dealer establishment and any other farming enterprise.

Dealers are also subject to annual compliance inspections, the focus of which is to ensure that complete separation between the dealer establishment and any other farming enterprise is maintained at all times.

Operators who turnover, within 30 days of purchase, less than 100 animals in a 12-month period are not considered to be operating as dealers and must comply with the obligations of a herdowner.