New York Consolidated Laws, Agriculture and Markets Law - AGM § 90-c. Prohibitions

1. It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase, or deal in, or sell cattle, swine, horses, deer, camelids, sheep, goats or poultry at wholesale, or for any person to operate or conduct an auction where cattle, swine, horses, deer, camelids, sheep, goats or poultry are sold, or for any person to transport poultry, unless such wholesale cattle, swine, horse, deer, camelids, sheep, goats or poultry dealer or auctioneer or poultry transporter holds a domestic animal health permit granted by the commissioner.

2. No person who holds or is required to hold a domestic animal health permit shall purchase, sell or otherwise deal in cattle, deer, swine, camelids, sheep or goats unless and until an ear tag is securely affixed to the ear of such animal or unless such animal is otherwise identified by a registration number, distinctive tattoo, electronic identification device or other unique permanent mark or, for an animal that is moved directly to slaughter, an official backtag.

3. No person shall deface, obliterate or remove an ear tag or other identification mark affixed to an animal under his or her control, or shall affix an ear tag to the ear of an animal that has previously been affixed to the ear of another animal.