§2-15-5. Care and handling of livestock and animal husbandry practices on private property.

(a) For the purpose of this section and Sections 2-4-1 and 13A-11-14, the term livestock shall include, but is not limited to, bovines, swine, sheep, goats, equine or equidae, ratites, poultry, pen-raised livestock such as quail, deer, pheasants, or similar livestock, and other farm animals.

(b) This section shall not affect the authority or the responsibility of any law enforcement agency or its officers to investigate or prosecute any violation of the law.

(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as relieving a farm or farm operation from complying with public health and sanitation statutes, rules, and orders administered or enforced by or through the Department of Public Health and any county health department.

(d) Except as otherwise provided by state or federal law or as provided in subsection (f), the entire subject matter concerning the care and handling of livestock and animal husbandry practices involved in the production of agricultural and farm products on private property shall be reserved to the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the State Board of Agriculture and Industries and shall be subject to the sole jurisdiction of the department and board.

(e) Except as provided in subsection (f), no county or municipal governing body may adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, or resolution concerning the care and handling of livestock or animal husbandry practices involved in the production of agricultural and farm products on private property.

(f) This section shall not affect, repeal, supersede, or override any ordinance heretofore enacted by a county or municipal governing body, or preclude or prohibit a county or municipal governing body from hereinafter enacting an ordinance, concerning zoning, business licenses, or the enforcement of public nuisances.

(g) The State Board of Agriculture and Industries may adopt rules necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this section.

(Act 2010-550, p. 977, §1.)