PURPOSE OF LIVESTOCK INSPECTIONS
Law & Order Code Article VIII: Control of Livestock movement and branding on the Colorado River Indian Reservation; Chapter A section 801 a.
The Chief livestock inspector shall exercise general supervision over the livestock interests of the Colorado River Indian Reservation, protect the livestock industry from theft and from contagious and infectious diseases, protect the public from diseased and unwholesome meat products, and protect livestock from abusive, harmful and inhumane, or cruel practices.
We are to protect the livestock industry from theft and infectious diseases. This can only be accomplished with brand inspections and responsible livestock production methods.
PROBLEMS AREA
We have experienced several incidents during the last year where livestock producers failed to have brand inspections as required by the Law & Order code. Problems occur when the buyer resells or slaughters the livestock and cannot produce a paper trail. The end results are inconvenience, delays on slaughter plans, postponed auction dates, possible seizure of the carcasses and citations issued.
Livestock inspectors are required to establish ownership of the animals [Chpt. C. section 811], if brand inspection are performed prior to sale by the producer everything would work out fine.
DEPARTMENT REQUIREMENTS
We are requiring a two day minimum advance notice -- we will not inspect any animals during night time hours. All inspection will be done during day light hours [Chpt. C. section 811 b], make sure you are allowing enough time to comply with the code before loading animals for your auction trip or slaughter date.
Tips on expediting the brands inspection;
buyer and seller must be present, or designees (must have in writing)
previous inspection papers be available
isolate the animals to be inspected
make a listing of the last brands used for each animal, describe each head.
make the appointment during day light hours
BE ADVISED!
We will not send a livestock inspector off the reservation. If you fail comply with the code and leave the reservation the consequences are yours alone.
In the event we make a mistake on the inspection form we will make every effort to remedy the situation; we will answer any questions put forth by the State or auction house.
LIVESTOCK PRODUCER INVOLVEMENT- EDUCATION
We are providing this information to educate the livestock producers within the reservation boundaries. We are open to suggestions from the livestock producers to provide better service for everyone.
We are revising the Livestock code this year; your comments good and bad are welcome please send any suggestion to the Fish and Game Department.
The following excerpt is from the Law & Order Code Article VIII: Control of Livestock movement and branding on the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Contact the Tribal Office for the entire code.
CHAPTER A. DEFINITIONS AND ORGANIZATION; section 800
A. "Livestock" means cattle, horses, sheep, goats. mules, swine, and asses.
C. "Producer" means any person who raises, breeds, feeds or grows live stock which are subject to this livestock ordinance.
CHAPTER C. INSPECTION OF LIVESTOCK.
Section 811. Method, Place and Time of Inspection.
a. Livestock Inspectors shall inspect livestock for health, marks an brands at loading stations, at places of exit from the Colorado River Indian Reservation and at places where livestock are gathered to be sold, slaughtered transported, conveyed, shipped or driven from their accustomed range for any purpose whatever.
b. Inspections shall be made by daylight or in a manner which enables the Livestock Inspector personally to see, inspect and record the brand and marks.
Section 811. Record of Inspection.
a. Livestock Inspectors shall make a record of all inspections disclosing the place and date of the inspection, its purpose, the marking, sex and description necessary to identify the livestock, the number of head running in every brand and ear, the name of the seller, the name of the buyer, and any other necessary information.
b. The record of inspection shall be made in triplicate, the original on which shall be sent to the Chief livestock Inspector who shall maintain a file of such records, the duplicate shall be furnished for the use of the person having the inspection made, and the triplicate retained by the Livestock Inspector.
Section 811. Inspection as to Ownership.
Livestock Inspectors shall determine by inspection of the livestock if the person in charge is the owner or is authorized in writing to handle the livestock.
Section 814. Inspection of Livestock to be slaughtered, Sold or Transported.
a. Livestock shall not be slaughtered, sold or driven, transported shipped, or conveyed from its accustomed range or pasture or other place where it has been kept, or driven, transported shipped or conveyed from the Colorado River Indian Reservation unless the livestock (1) have been inspected by an inspector for health, brands, and marks immediately before they are slaughtered, sold driven, transported, shipped or conveyed, (1) the inspection fee paid thereon, and (1) the issuance of a record of inspection.
b. The owner or authorized handler of the livestock to be slaughtered sold, driven, transported, shipped or conveyed as provided in subsection a. shall notify the inspector of this intention to do so and shall make arrangements of time and place for the inspection.
c. The person in charge of the inspected livestock shall at all times have and make available for examination by the livestock inspector or other duly authorized law enforcement officials the duplicate of the record of inspection upon request or demand therefor.
d. A person violating this Section shall be guilty of an offense.
Section 815. Inspection Fees.
Livestock inspectors shall collect from the person in charge of the livestock at the time of inspection, the following fees for each designated type of livestock:
a. Twenty-five cents ($.15) per head for cattle;
b. Ten bents ($.10) per heat for sheep, goats and swine;
c. One dollar ($1.00) per heat for Horses, mules and assess.
Section 816. Alteration of Certificate or Record of Inspection
The person who alters a certificate or record of inspection or copy thereof issued by a Livestock Inspector or other authorized representative of the Tribes is guilty of an offense.
Section 817. Substitution of Livestock After Issuance of Certificate of Inspection
A person who removes an animal and substitutes another therefor or adds other animals to a lot of livestock for which an inspector has issued a certificate of inspection for shipment, sale or slaughter is guilty of an offense.
Section 818. Slaughter of Livestock by Producer for Own Use; Inspection of Hides; Stamping of Carcass.
Producers who slaughter livestock for the purpose of using the meat for food for themselves, their immediate family, or employees, shall be required to have The livestock inspected before slaughter, and the whole hide of all livestock so slaughtered, except swine, shall be hung in a conspicuous place on the premises of the producer and kept there until the hide has been inspected and marked or tagged by livestock inspector. The meat from the livestock so slaughtered shall not be removed from the premises of the owner without being first stamped upon the hindquarter, side shoulder, neck and shank of both sides of the carcass with the tribally adopted stamp by a Livestock Inspector.