32.4.301    INSPECTION OF ALTERNATIVE LIVESTOCK

(1) Prior to the sale, transfer of ownership, or transportation of a live animal from a licensed alternative livestock farm, with the exclusion of omnivores and carnivores, the animal must be inspected by the department-designated agent with the following exceptions:

(a) The department may waive the inspection if the sale or transfer of ownership of the alternative livestock animals is between members of the same family and if no change in location of the animals occurs;

(b) Alternative livestock may be moved without inspection between alternative livestock farm properties under one license;

(c) Animals requiring emergency medical treatment may be transported without prior inspection for veterinary treatment if the following conditions are met:

(i) Prior to the movement of the animal, the owner must call the department (Helena office), and file an intent to transport the animal and schedule the inspection of the animal at the destination vet clinic.

(ii) An inspection must be completed by an alternative livestock veterinarian prior to movement from the vet clinic and return to the alternative livestock farm; and

(iii) Any untagged and untattooed alternative livestock must be tagged and marked in compliance with 87-4-414, MCA and 81-3-102, MCA prior to return to the alternative livestock farm;

(d) Animals transported directly to an approved slaughter facility may be transported without prior inspection if all of the following conditions are met:

(i) all animals are officially identified with a Montana eartag;

(ii) prior to the movement of the animal, the alternative livestock licensee or their agent must call the department (Helena office) and request a transport permit number, provide the department the complete individual animal identification, age, sex, and species of each animal intended for shipment and the immediate destination of the animals;

(iii) the department (Helena office) will issue a transport permit number that will be valid for 48 hours from the time of issue to allow movement of the animals from the alternative livestock farm to the approved slaughter facility;

(iv) the transport permit number must be written on a department-approved form, a copy of which must accompany the animal(s) to the destination;

(v) the alternative livestock licensee shall retrieve the alternative livestock animal head(s), all official identification tags, an official receipt for the animal(s) from the slaughter facility; and for animals meeting test age criteria, the licensee must ensure the appropriate CWD testing samples are submitted by an alternative livestock veterinarian to an approved laboratory for testing;

(vi) movement of alternative livestock must be in a secured and enclosed vehicle; and

(vii) the alternative livestock licensee shall provide a copy of the transport permit and an appropriate receipt from the slaughter facility to the department (Helena office) within five days of the animal's arrival at the slaughter facility.

(e) Omnivores and carnivores must meet the inspection and transportation requirements of the Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

(2) For animals that are killed by predators or die of natural causes, the animal death must be reported to the department (Helena office) within five working days of the discovery of death.

(a) If the animal has been tagged or marked, a department-designated agent must remove the official eartags from the animal and all of the identification tags from the animal must be submitted to the department with a completed certificate of veterinary inspection. The department may allow the animal to be inspected at a location off of the alternative livestock farm and transported in accordance to the procedures outlined in (3)(a).

(b) If the animal has not been tagged and marked, the department may waive the inspection requirement.

(3) Alternative livestock that are slaughtered on the alternative livestock farm must be inspected by an alternative livestock veterinarian.

(a) The alternative livestock including but not limited to the carcass, parts, or meat must be inspected prior to removal from the licensed alternative livestock farm property unless:

(i) The owner or owner's agent of the animal has called the department (Helena office) and has provided the department the complete identification, age, sex, and species of the animal; the immediate destination of the animal; and the name and address of the consignee if the animal was sold.

(ii) The department (Helena office) must give permission for the owner or owner's agent to move the animal from the alternative livestock farm. A transport number or certificate of identification number will be given to the alternative livestock licensee. This number must be listed on the bill of sale for the animal or other department-specified form. The valid bill of sale for the animal or department-approved form must accompany the animal to its destination.

(iii) Prior to the movement of the animal from the property, a department-designated agent must be informed by the alternative livestock farm licensee of the immediate destination of the animal. The department-designated agent shall inspect the animal and retrieve the identification tags from the animal. All identification tags, bill of sale (or other approved form), and completed certificate of veterinary inspection must be submitted to the department within five days of completion of the inspection.

(b) If a department-designated agent is present on the licensed alternative livestock farm at the time of slaughter, the department will waive the requirement to inform the Helena office. The inspection of the animal pursuant to 87-4-416, MCA, must be completed prior to movement of the animal carcass, meat, or parts from the alternative livestock farm.

(4) A valid bill of sale must accompany any sale or transfer of ownership of any alternative livestock farm animal, carcass, meat or parts.

(a) Transfer of ownership of alternative livestock must meet all of the requirements of ARM 32.18.106. The valid bill of sale must bear the signature of one of the recorded owner(s) of the recorded whole herd mark or his assigns.

(b) A copy of the bill of sale must be provided to the department-designated agent at the time of inspection, and the agent shall in turn provide the copy to the department (Helena office).

(c) A copy of the bill of sale must be kept in records maintained by the alternative livestock farm licensee.

(5) The alternative livestock farm licensee shall present alternative livestock for inspection under conditions where the designated agent for the department can safely read all marks and identification on the animals.

(6) The inspection shall permit the movement of the alternative livestock from the place of inspection immediately to the destination shown on the inspection certificate. No diversion or off-loading of the alternative livestock will be permitted without approval from the department and further inspection. A certificate of inspection shall permit the movement of the alternative livestock identified thereon for no more than ten days after the date of inspection.

(7) Certificates of inspection, bills of sale and identification tags must be mailed to the Helena office within five days of completing the inspection.

 

History: 81-2-102, 81-2-103, 81-2-104, 87-4-422, MCA; IMP, 81-2-102, 81-2-103, 87-4-422, MCA; NEW, 1999 MAR p. 136, Eff. 1/15/99; AMD, 2010 MAR p. 2974, Eff. 12/24/10; AMD, 2013 MAR p. 414, Eff. 3/29/13; AMD, 2019 MAR p. 2380, Eff. 12/28/19.