Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 81. LIVESTOCK

CHAPTER 9. SLAUGHTER

Part 1. General Provisions

Inspection And Marking Of Hides And Meat Of Slaughtered Cattle Or Horses -- Records -- Bill Of Sale -- When Inspection Not Necessary

81-9-112. Inspection and marking of hides and meat of slaughtered cattle or horses -- records -- bill of sale -- when inspection not necessary. (1) All slaughtering establishments required to be licensed under 81-9-201 shall maintain the hide of an animal in its entirety with tail and ears attached for each animal slaughtered until inspected by a state or deputy state stock inspector in the county where the animal was slaughtered. The inspector shall mark the hide in the manner prescribed by the department. This inspection may be waived for animals inspected by a state or deputy state stock inspector on a preslaughter inspection.

(2) Each dressed carcass of a slaughtered animal must be stamped with an ink stamp in a manner specified by the department. The inspector shall keep a record and issue a certificate of inspection as specified by the department, giving the name and address of the establishment or person, the serial number of the inspection of the hide, the brand on the hide, if applicable, the date of inspection, and the place where the inspection was made. The inspector shall forward a copy of the inspection certificate to the department and issue one copy to the person requesting the inspection.

(3) When ownership of the carcass and hide presented is claimed on a bill of sale, the officer making the inspection shall demand and must receive the original bill of sale and shall attach it to the inspector's certificate sent to the county clerk and recorder. When the bills of sale cover cattle or horses not included in the inspection, the inspector shall issue to the owner of the bill of sale a receipt for the bill of sale. The receipt must describe the balance of the cattle or horses covered by the original bill of sale.

(4) A person who kills livestock in good faith for the person's own use is not required to have the meat inspected or stamped.

History: Ap.p. Sec. 3, Ch. 172, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 3298.18, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 78, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 37, L. 1961; amd. Sec. 87, Ch. 310, L. 1974; Sec. 46-503, R.C.M. 1947; Ap.p. Sec. 3, Ch. 172, L. 1931; re-en. Sec. 3298.18, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 78, L. 1941; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 67, L. 1959; Sec. 46-504, R.C.M. 1947; R.C.M. 1947, 46-503, 46-504(part); amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 234, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 19, Ch. 577, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 2688, Ch. 56, L. 2009; amd. Sec. 9, Ch. 416, L. 2009.