To buy beef cattle, you must be a beef cattle producer or a licensed dealer.
Licensed dealers can include:
- Packing plant operators
- Abattoir operators
- Auction market operators
- Fair operators
- Exhibition operators
- Country dealers
Becoming a licensed dealer
Dealers must apply for a licence annually. Agricorp mails renewal packages to existing dealers 2 months before the dealer's licence expires. A $25 annual fee is required when applying.
New dealers must contact Agricorp to request an application package.
Agricorp reviews applications and financial statements and issues licences to approved dealers. If you fail to make payments within the timelines as set out below or default on payments, you may lose your licence.
Payment timeline for licensed dealers
Payments for purchased beef cattle can be made by cheque, direct deposit, electronic transfer, or other method agreed to by the seller and buyer.
- If the amount of total sale is less than $15,000, the funds must be deposited into the seller's bank by 1:00 p.m. on the ninth business day, after the price determination day.
- If the amount of total sale is $15,000 or more, the funds must be deposited into the seller's bank by 1:00 p.m. on the sixth business day, after the price determination day.
The price determination day can be any of the following:
- Day of weighing if the price of the livestock is determined on a weight basis
- Day of grading if the price of the livestock is determined on a carcass-grading basis
- Day of purchase if the price of the livestock is determined on a per-head basis
Remittance fees
All licensed livestock dealers are required to remit fees on each head of cattle purchased. Depending on the type of sale the fee may be payable by the producer; licensed dealer who sells the cattle; consignor and the consignee. These fees are managed by the Livestock Financial Protection Board.
Fees are remitted based on the type of operation.
| Type of sale | Description | Amount to be remitted by licensed dealer |
| Consignment sale | Sale through an auction market, fair or exhibition | 20¢/head (includes 10¢/head collected from seller and10¢/head payable by agent) |
| Direct sale | Direct sale by a producer to a licensed dealer (packing plant, abattoir and country dealers) | 10¢/head (collected from seller) |
| Private Treaty | Direct sale by a licensed dealer to a producer/cooperative or to another licensed dealer | 10¢/head (collected from seller)
|
How to submit remittance fees
Agricorp mails all licensed dealers a Fee Return form, which the dealer needs to complete and return to Agricorp along with any applicable payment.
Dealers who purchase 1,000 head of cattle or less per year are required to complete the form and remit fees annually. Dealers who purchase over 1,000 head are required to complete the form and remit fees monthly.
Dealers need to submit a Fee Return form even if they did not have any sales during the period indicated on the form.
Cheques must be made payable to Livestock Financial Protection Board.
Payment timeline for producers or cooperatives
Funds must be deposited into the seller's bank within 15 days of the day of sale.
