True or False: Poultry are not considered livestock by the federal government and are exempt from livestock legislation.

• A. True
• B. Sometimes true
• C. False
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (A)

Poultry are treated as a separate regulatory category in federal law, distinct from the general group of animals often labeled as livestock. Because of this separation, many statutes that are framed as governing livestock (such as those addressing cattle, hogs, sheep, and goats) do not automatically apply to poultry. Instead, poultry products are regulated under the Poultry Products Inspection Act, with oversight by the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, and avian health programs fall under APHIS. An additional point is that the Animal Welfare Act does not cover birds, which reinforces that poultry sit outside that particular livestock regulatory umbrella. So, in this regulatory context, the statement holds true: poultry are not considered livestock under those broad livestock laws and are exempt from that specific legislation.