32.3.416    IDENTIFICATION OF TESTED, REACTOR, AND OTHER ANIMALS

(1) Reactor animals must be tagged in the left ear with a serially numbered United States Department of Agriculture or department brucellosis reactor tag, and must be permanently branded on the left jaw with the letter "B" not less than two inches high. Tagging and branding of reactors must be accomplished within 15 days after the date of test on blood collected from the animal. The time allowed to tag and brand reactor animals, as specified herein, may be enlarged or extended by the state veterinarian for good cause shown.

(2) Animals which have been subjected to an official test for brucellosis must be identified with serially numbered identification ear tags of the United States Department of Agriculture or of the department, registration tattoos, numbered earmarks, or other definite individual animal identification mark, approved by the department, and applied under the supervision of the department.

(3) The United States Department of Agriculture backtag is adopted by the department as an official animal identification tag for market cattle identification (MCI).

(4) The unauthorized removal of any identification provided for under this rule is prohibited.

History: 81-2-102, 81-2-103, MCA; IMP, 81-2-102, MCA; Eff. 12/31/72; EMERG, AMD, Eff. 11/4/75; AMD, 1980 MAR p. 1082, Eff. 3/28/80.