Colorado § 35-43-130 - Cattle in feedlots - penalty.

§ 35-43-130. Cattle in feedlots - penalty.

(1) A Colorado brand inspector shall inspect all cattle entering a Colorado custom feedlot for feeding under a custom contract if the cattle are not accompanied by a brand certificate or valid documentation of purchase listing all brands or no brands. In addition, all cattle entering Colorado for grazing purposes under a leased grazing agreement, owned by a nonresident, shall also be inspected by a duly authorized Colorado brand inspector. The brand inspector shall issue a certificate of inspection to the proven owner and a copy of such certificate to the custom feedlot operator or ranch manager after ownership is established and before the cattle are mixed with any other cattle or turned loose for grazing. Upon completion of the inspection, the inspector shall collect an inspection fee in the amount prescribed by the state board of stock inspection commissioners pursuant to section 35-41-104. If the cattle are carrying more than two consistent brands, the owner shall mark or brand all of the owner's cattle with the same brand, with one of the two existing brands, with a brand of valid registry of the owner, or with an ear tag specifically identifying each animal to a specific feedlot or otherwise identify the cattle as prescribed by the board. Evidence of this brand or permanent mark shall be shown on the certificate of inspection in addition to brands or no brands found on the inspected cattle for future reference of valid proven ownership. When ear tags are utilized, each ear tag must be legible and at least one inch in height and two inches in width.

(2) Any lessee, lessor, commercial feedlot owner, or established livestock owner who violates any of the provisions of this section commits a petty offense and shall be punished as provided in section 18-1.3-503.

Source: L. 75: Entire section added, p. 1349, § 1, effective July 1. L. 81: Entire section amended, p. 1710, § 3, effective July 1. L. 89: (1) amended, p. 1406, § 6, effective May 2. L. 2002: (2) amended, p. 1550, § 322, effective October 1. L. 2021: (2) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3282, § 641, effective March 1, 2022. L. 2025: (1) amended, (HB 25-1084), ch. 24, p. 127, § 116, effective August 6.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2002 act amending subsection (2), see section 1 of chapter 318, Session Laws of Colorado 2002.

PART 2

BRAND INSPECTION

Editor's note: This part 2 was added with relocations in 2009 containing provisions of some sections formerly located in article 11 of title 12. Former C.R.S. section numbers are shown in editor's notes following those sections that were relocated. For a detailed comparison of this part 2, see the comparative tables located in the back of the index.

Cross references: For custom processing of meat animals, see article 33 of this title 35.