Class Code 0038
Stock Farms; Livestock Feed Yards
Class Code 0038 applies to stock farms and livestock feed yards in California — operations that raise, feed, sort, and ship cattle, sheep, swine and other livestock. The approved pure premium rate for September 1, 2026 is $9.197 per $100 of payroll, which reflects the higher injury and illness exposures common to these operations.
What Class Code 0038 Covers
This classification covers the core agricultural operations on stock farms and commercial feed yards: feeding and watering animals, handling and sorting livestock, loading and unloading for sale or transport, maintenance of pens and fences, feed mixing and delivery, and manure management. It includes on-site tasks such as operating feed trucks, tractors and mixers, cleaning and repairing corrals and troughs, and monitoring animal health for routine care (not specialized veterinary surgery). Seasonal and full-time workers who perform hands-on livestock care and yard maintenance are typically included. Activities tied to silage or grain storage and confined-space entry for manure pits or silos are also commonly encountered under this class.
Who It Applies To
- Feed yard managers and ranch hands who feed, sort, and load livestock
- Employees operating tractors, feed mixers, skid steers, and forklifts on the yard
- Workers who clean pens, handle manure and perform maintenance on fencing
- Livestock transport handlers and yard staff who load and unload animals
- Seasonal workers and labor crews assigned to large commercial stock operations
Common Job Duties
- Feeding, watering, and checking animals for illness or injury
- Sorting, herding, and loading/unloading livestock for transport
- Operating feed trucks, mixers, tractors, skid steers, and gates
- Cleaning pens, scraping manure, and maintaining manure storage
- Repairing fences, gates, pens, and simple mechanical equipment
- Mixing and delivering feed rations; handling bales or feed bags
Common Injury Risks
Understanding the $9.197 Rate
The pure premium rate of $9.197 per $100 of payroll represents the estimated cost of future workers' compensation losses for this classification before insurer expenses and profit. Carriers multiply that pure premium by your payroll in the class to compute the base premium, then adjust it with experience modification, schedule credits/penalties, policy deductibles, and insurer expense loads — so your final premium will vary based on your loss history, payroll mix, and underwriting.
Cal/OSHA Compliance Requirements
Cal/OSHA requirements commonly applicable to stock farms and feed yards include Heat Illness Prevention (outdoor work training, water, shade and acclimatization), respiratory protection and hazard communication for exposure to dust, gases and chemicals, and confined-space controls for silos and manure pits. Employers must also provide training in animal handling, machine guarding, lockout/tagout for equipment repairs, and personal protective equipment appropriate to the task.
How Key HR Helps Employers Under Class Code 0038
A PEO like Key HR can help farms classify payroll accurately, implement tailored safety programs (animal handling protocols, confined-space entry procedures, heat-illness plans), and coordinate training to reduce claims. Key HR also manages claims reporting, facilitates return-to-work plans to shorten indemnity exposure, and leverages pooled buying power to reduce premium and administrative costs for California livestock employers.
Get a QuoteFrequently Asked Questions
Does Class Code 0038 include veterinary services performed on-site?
Routine animal care and basic medical treatment by farm staff (wound care, injections under direction) are typically covered, but licensed veterinary surgery or specialized clinic services provided by veterinarians are usually classified separately.
How can I lower my workers' comp costs for a feed yard?
Focus on proven loss-control measures: animal-handling training, documented safe loading procedures, equipment guarding and maintenance, heat-illness prevention, respiratory controls for dust and manure gases, and a formal return-to-work program to reduce claim duration and your experience modification.
Are confined-space rules relevant to manure pits and silos on my property?
Yes. Manure pits, silos and some bins can present atmospheric and engulfment hazards; employers must follow confined-space entry procedures, atmospheric testing, ventilation, attendant systems and rescue planning where applicable.
Quick Facts
- Class Code
- 0038
- Classification
- Stock Farms; Livestock Feed Yards
- Pure Premium Rate
- $9.197 / $100 payroll
- Effective Date
- September 1, 2026
- Source
- WCIRB Approved Filing
Manage Workers' Comp Through a PEO
Key HR provides pay-as-you-go workers' comp for California employers — no large deposits, no audits, better rates.
Get a Quoteor call (800) 922-4133Ready to Simplify Workers' Comp for Class Code 0038?
Key HR provides California employers with pay-as-you-go workers' comp, HR compliance support, and payroll — all through one PEO partnership.