(1) This rule is to assist in the control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis, bovine brucellosis and other infectious, contagious, communicable diseases of cattle; and to assist in maintaining Montana as an accredited-free tuberculosis state and certified brucellosis-free state.

(2) In this rule

(a) "Backtag" means the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service, veterinary services approved backtag adopted by the Montana department of livestock as an official animal identification tag.

(b) "Eartag" means the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service, veterinary services approved eartag adopted by the Montana department of livestock as an official animal identification tag.

(3) Cattle 2 years of age or over, except steers and spayed heifers, which are moved for slaughter or for sale in public market channels must be individually identified by a backtag affixed a few inches from the backline and just behind the shoulder of the animal, or by an eartag.

(4) Cattle 2 years of age or over, except steers and spayed heifers, may be moved from a farm, ranch or feedlot to a slaughtering establishment operating under official meat inspection, or to a licensed livestock market, or to a public stockyard, or to a shipping point, provided such cattle are identified upon arrival thereat by backtag or eartag, as prescribed in (3) above, or by brand or lot if shipment is direct to slaughtering establishment from ranch or feedlot.

(5) Backtags or eartags applied, as required by (3) and (4) of this rule, must be recorded on departmentally prescribed forms, along with the date tags are applied; brand and location of brand; and herd owner's name, address and county. The completed form must be sent to the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service, veterinary services, Helena, Montana, 59601, by not later than Saturday of the week in which the backtags or eartags were applied.