4304-00 Feedlots or stockyards
Applies to:
Businesses operating feedlots or stockyards.
Feedlots are large, enclosed yards usually with pens or stables where livestock, such as cattle, horses, sheep, or pigs are temporarily held for the sole purpose of supplying with feed and nourishment.
Stockyards are holding areas (large, enclosed yards) where livestock are kept until they are sent for slaughter, sold, or dispersed elsewhere.
Work activities include, but are not limited to:
• Feeding (such as corn or hay) which is brought in bulk;
• Mixing feed in choppers and blowing into feeder troughs;
• Raising livestock until they reach certain weights, then selling to packing houses or slaughterhouses.
Exclusions:
• Packing houses or slaughterhouses are classified in 4301;
• Livestock auction and sales yards or livestock buyers houses are classified in 4304-02.
4304-02 Livestock auction and sales yards; livestock buyers
Applies to:
• Businesses operating livestock auction and sales yards.
• Livestock buyers.
Operation of an auction and sales yard involves the exhibition and sale of cattle, horses, mules, sheep, hogs, and goats. The premises usually consists of an arena, a grandstand for customers (both buyers and sellers), and outside pens or stalls for livestock.
Livestock are usually dropped off by customers (farmers, ranchers, etc.), and are checked by brand inspectors and veterinarians.
Work activities include, but are not limited to:
• Inspecting animals which have been dropped off by customers (farmers, ranchers, etc.);
• Tagging and recording livestock;
• Feeding the livestock and maintaining the pens;
• Bringing the livestock to the arena when auction begins, and parading them around for show;
• Taking animals back to the pens to be weighed. A recordkeeper usually assists the auctioneer during this activity. Recordkeepers engaged directly in the business of auctioning are subject to the auction classification;
• Livestock buyers view the livestock from an overhead viewing area or by walking through the pen area.
[Statutory Authority: RCW 51.04.020 and 51.16.035. WSR 25-23-070, s 296-17A-4304, filed 11/18/25, effective 1/1/26. WSR 07-01-014, recodified as § 296-17A-4304, filed 12/8/06, effective 12/8/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 51.16.035. WSR 98-18-042, § 296-17-633, filed 8/28/98, effective 10/1/98; WSR 85-24-032 (Order 85-33), § 296-17-633, filed 11/27/85, effective 1/1/86; Order 75-38, § 296-17-633, filed 11/24/75, effective 1/1/76; Order 73-22, § 296-17-633, filed 11/9/73, effective 1/1/74.]