Are agistment contracts legally binding?

Yes. A signed agistment contract that demonstrates meeting the elements of contract formation (offer, acceptance, consideration) is generally enforceable under state contract law; consult counsel for unique statutory limits.

Can the contract be signed electronically?

Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and under UETA where adopted; however, check state exceptions and require explicit consent if the transaction is consumer-facing.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Notarity or witnesses are not universally required for agistment contracts, but certain jurisdictions or mortgage/lien contexts may require acknowledgements; verify state-specific rules when real property or recorded rights are affected.

What happens if an animal is lost or dies?

The contract should specify responsibility for mortality, the valuation method, and insurance handling; absent clear terms, state law on bailment or negligence may determine liability.

How can a contract be canceled or revoked?

Follow the termination clause: provide the required notice in writing, comply with cure periods, settle outstanding fees, and arrange for animal removal per the contract terms.

Who should sign on behalf of an organization?

Only persons with actual authority should sign; for entities, use the authorized officer or person designated in corporate resolutions to avoid challenges to enforceability.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Livestock Agistment Contract

Livestock Agistment Contract

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

LIVESTOCK AGISTMENT CONTRACT

This Livestock Agistment Contract (the Agreement) is made on between Owner Name: (Owner) and Agistor Name: (Agistor).

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Owner is the lawful owner of the livestock described in this Agreement and desires temporary care, grazing, stabling, boarding, and related services for such livestock on land controlled by Agistor; and

WHEREAS, Agistor represents that Agistor has the facilities, feed, water, and personnel necessary to provide agistment services in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth below and agrees to care for Owner's livestock in a responsible and commercially reasonable manner; and

WHEREAS, the parties wish to set forth the terms governing the care, custody, control, payment, and liabilities for the livestock while under agistment with Agistor.

PARTIES' CONTACT INFORMATION

Owner Address Owner Phone Agistor Address Agistor Phone

SCOPE OF WORK

Agistor shall provide agistment services for the livestock described below at the location identified below and shall provide routine feeding, watering, daily inspection, shelter as reasonably available, and ordinary husbandry consistent with accepted practices for the species described.

Livestock Description (species, breed, number, identifying marks) Location of Agistment Special Instructions / Additional Services (vet care, farrier, transport)

Care Responsibilities (check all that apply) Feeding Watering Veterinary care Farrier

PAYMENT TERMS

Owner shall pay Agistor for agistment and related services as follows.

Agistment Fee (total or per head) Deposit Amount (if any) Payment Schedule / Due Dates

Late payments shall incur a late fee of and/or interest at a rate of on any amount not paid when due. Agistor may withhold livestock or impose a lien as permitted by law for unpaid charges.

TERM & TERMINATION

The term of this Agreement commences on and continues until unless earlier terminated in accordance with this Section.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon written notice delivered at least days prior to the intended termination date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Agistor may immediately terminate or suspend services if Owner fails to pay amounts when due or if livestock present a serious health or safety risk.

Early Termination Fee / Costs Payable on Termination

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party shall keep confidential and shall not disclose to third parties any non-public business, veterinary, or financial information of the other party disclosed in connection with this Agreement, except as required by law, or as necessary to perform the duties under this Agreement. Confidential information does not include information that becomes publicly known other than by breach of this Agreement or is independently developed by the receiving party.

INSURANCE, LIABILITY & INDEMNITY

Agistor shall maintain reasonable liability insurance covering the agistment premises and activities. Except for willful misconduct or gross negligence, Agistor's liability for loss, injury, death or disease of livestock shall be limited to the lesser of the livestock's fair market value or the amount recoverable under Agistor's insurance. Owner shall maintain insurance covering Owner's interest in the livestock and shall indemnify and hold Agistor harmless from claims arising out of Owner's negligence, pre-existing condition of livestock, or failure to disclose material health information.

Emergency Veterinary Authorization (check if authorized) Agistor may seek emergency veterinary care and charge Owner for reasonable costs Owner Emergency Contact

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of laws rules.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, including any attachments and written amendments signed by both parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements, representations, and understandings, whether oral or written. Any modification must be in writing and signed by both parties.

NOTICES

Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses set forth in this Agreement by personal delivery, certified mail, or other commercially recognized delivery service and shall be effective upon receipt.

Owner:

By:

Date:

Agistor:

By:

Date:

What a Livestock Agistment Contract Is and When It Applies

A Livestock Agistment Contract is a written agreement under which one party (the agistor) cares for, grazes, boards, or feeds another party's livestock in exchange for payment or other consideration. The contract defines responsibilities for feeding, housing, veterinary care, liability, termination, and payment. It preserves ownership of the animals while allocating custody and care duties to the agistor, and it helps prevent disputes by setting explicit expectations about access, treatment, insurance, and indemnity between landowner, agistor, and animal owner.

Why a Clear Agistment Contract Protects Owners and Providers

A well-drafted agistment contract reduces ambiguity about animal care, liability, and payment obligations. It clarifies who pays for feed, veterinary treatment, transport, and losses, and documents the agreed duration and termination rights.

Typical Parties Who Use Livestock Agistment Contracts

Parties frequently involved include livestock owners, landholders offering pasture or boarding services, and on-site managers who oversee daily care.

Ranchers and small-scale livestock owners who need temporary grazing or boarding.
Landowners and agistment providers who host animals on leased pasture or barns.
Veterinarians, insurers, and lenders seeking contractual proof of custody and care responsibilities.

The contract is also used by transporters, veterinarians, insurers, and lenders when animals serve as collateral, ensuring each stakeholder’s rights and responsibilities are documented.

Step-by-Step: Completing and Executing the Contract

Follow these four practical steps to prepare, agree, and finalize the agistment contract either on paper or electronically.

01

Prepare: Gather animal IDs, owner IDs, insurance certificates, and agreed terms.
02

Draft: Populate contract fields, attach exhibits for feed schedules and veterinary plans.
03

Review: Have both parties and counsel review terms, insurance, and indemnity clauses.
04

Sign: Execute via wet signature or compliant e-signature; retain copies for all parties.

Core Elements to Include in a Professional Agistment Contract

A complete contract combines clear identification, operational terms, financial arrangements, and risk allocation to reduce future disputes and support enforcement.

Parties

Identify owner, agistor, and any third-party caretakers by legal name, contact details, and business or tax identification to ensure enforceability and clarify responsibility.

Animal Details

Provide a detailed inventory including species, breed, color, tag numbers, and microchip IDs. Attach exhibit photographs or tagging records when possible for unambiguous identification.

Duration

Specify effective date, term length, renewal conditions, and precise termination notice periods to avoid disputes over occupancy and care obligations.

Care Obligations

Define feeding schedules, turnout, shelter, veterinary access, and emergency treatment procedures, including who may authorize care and who bears cost responsibility.

Payment & Fees

State base agistment fees, deposit requirements, billing frequency, late fees, and who pays for additional services like farrier, vaccination, or emergency veterinary care.

Liability & Insurance

Allocate risk through liability limitations, indemnities, and required insurance coverage with named insureds; address proof of insurance and consequences for lapse.

Required Contract Fields at a Glance

Owner Name: Legal name

Agistor Name: Legal entity

Animal ID: Breed, tag, microchip

Term: Start and end dates

Payment Terms: Amount and cadence

Insurance: Type and policy limits

How to Set Up a Digital Agistment Workflow

Configure a repeatable online workflow to collect signatures, insurance proofs, and attachments in the correct order.

Field	Configuration
Signature Order	Sequential signer order or parallel signing
Required Attachments	Insurance certificate, animal ID photos, vet records
Authentication	Email link, SMS code, or identity verification
Audit Trail	Timestamp, IP address, and action log

Technical Considerations for eSigning and eSubmission

Choose a platform that supports the formats, authentication, and retention needs of agistment agreements prior to executing them electronically.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX supported
Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger KBA

Where to Send or File an Executed Agistment Contract

After execution, distribute copies to all parties, store a master copy with the provider, and retain proof of signature and attachments for compliance and claims.

Owner Copy: Send signed PDF to owner email
Provider Copy: Store master copy at agistment facility
Insurance: Provide policy proof to agistor
Legal Counsel: Share with counsel when disputes arise

How Agistment Contracts Differ from Boarding Leases and Sales

Compare common document types to confirm that an agistment contract is the appropriate instrument for temporary care without transfer of ownership.

Criteria	Agistment Contract	Boarding Lease
Ownership transfer		no or conditional
Duration	short-term or seasonal	typically fixed term
Care obligations	agistor specified	provider specified
Notarization typical	optional	optional

Comparing eSignature Pricing and Features for Agistment Contracts

Vendor pricing and features influence cost of executing and managing agistment contracts. The table highlights starting prices and key differences; verify competitor offerings before procurement.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Business Premium)	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor	Verify with vendor

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing an Agistment Contract

Vague animal descriptions that fail to identify animals uniquely, creating disputes about which animals are covered.
Omitting payment schedules or remedies for late payment, which complicates collection and may increase disputes.
Failing to specify veterinary authorization and billing responsibility for emergency care, causing delays in treatment.
Neglecting insurance or indemnity provisions, leaving parties exposed to uninsured loss or unclear liability allocation.

Potential Legal and Financial Risks

Breach Liability: Damage claims possible

Animal Loss: Replacement or value loss

Regulatory Fines: Agency penalties possible

Insurance Gaps: Coverage disputes arise

Repair Costs: Property damage liability

Collection Risk: Unpaid fees owed

Practical Tips for Accurate, Efficient Contract Management

Adopt consistent processes and templates, and document exceptions to streamline recurring agistment arrangements while minimizing risk.

Use a Standard Template

Rely on a vetted template to ensure consistent terms, reduce drafting time, and make reviews faster; mark nonstandard clauses clearly for legal review.

Attach Exhibits

Attach animal inventories, photos, vet authorizations, and feed schedules so operational details are never implied or omitted from the main contract.

Require Insurance Proof

Obtain certificates of insurance naming the agistor as additional insured when appropriate and verify coverage limits before admitting animals.

Track Amendments

Document any changes in signed amendments or riders with dates and initials to prevent oral modification disputes and preserve the contract trail.

How to Amend or Update an Existing Agistment Contract

Use a formal amendment workflow to document changes, maintain enforceability, and keep a clear audit trail of agreed modifications.

01

Propose:

Draft amendment language and circulate to the other party.

02

Review:

Both parties and counsel review proposed changes.

03

Sign:

Execute amendment with same signature standards as original.

04

Initial:

Initial each amended page if required for clarity.

05

Attach:

Attach amendment to original contract and distribute copies.

06

Record:

Log amendment in contract management system.

Key Dates and Deadlines to Track

Record and monitor critical dates to ensure obligations, payments, and cancellations occur within agreed timeframes.

Effective Date:

Contract obligations begin on the stated date

Payment Due Date:

When agistment fees must be paid

Insurance Renewal:

Certificate expiration and renewal date

Termination Notice:

Required days' notice to end agreement

Record Retention:

Retention period for contract and proofs

Milestone Timeline from Negotiation to Closeout

Follow these numbered milestones for a typical agistment transaction to ensure coverage from initial negotiation through final reconciliation.

01

Negotiation

Parties agree terms and special conditions

02

Execution

Both parties sign and exchange copies

03

Move-In

Animals arrive and initial inspection occurs

04

Closeout

Final accounting, return of animals, and record retention

Frequently Asked Questions About Agistment Contracts

Answers to common concerns about enforceability, signatures, liabilities, and contract cancellation for livestock agistment agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Are agistment contracts legally binding?
Yes. A signed agistment contract that demonstrates meeting the elements of contract formation (offer, acceptance, consideration) is generally enforceable under state contract law; consult counsel for unique statutory limits.
Can the contract be signed electronically?
Electronic signatures are valid under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and under UETA where adopted; however, check state exceptions and require explicit consent if the transaction is consumer-facing.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Notarity or witnesses are not universally required for agistment contracts, but certain jurisdictions or mortgage/lien contexts may require acknowledgements; verify state-specific rules when real property or recorded rights are affected.
What happens if an animal is lost or dies?
The contract should specify responsibility for mortality, the valuation method, and insurance handling; absent clear terms, state law on bailment or negligence may determine liability.
How can a contract be canceled or revoked?
Follow the termination clause: provide the required notice in writing, comply with cure periods, settle outstanding fees, and arrange for animal removal per the contract terms.
Who should sign on behalf of an organization?
Only persons with actual authority should sign; for entities, use the authorized officer or person designated in corporate resolutions to avoid challenges to enforceability.

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