(1) Whenever any cattle,
horses, or mules are to be transported from any point within this state to any point
within or without this state, it is the duty of the transportation company and the
person selling and delivering cattle, horses, or mules to other persons for
transportation to make application to the state board of stock inspection
commissioners or some duly authorized brand inspector of the board to inspect the
brands and earmarks of any such cattle, horses, or mules, stating in the application
the time when and the place where the animals will be ready for inspection, giving
sufficient notice for the inspector to appear at the place designated in such
application, and to provide adequate corrals to inspect such cattle, horses, or mules
in daylight. It is the duty of such inspector, or some other inspector to be
designated by the board, to appear at the place designated in such application and
inspect such cattle, horses, or mules, make the necessary record, and give the
necessary certificate required by the provisions of this article.
(2) Whenever any cattle, horses, or mules are to be driven from any point
within this state to any point within or without this state, it is the duty of the owner
or person in charge of such animals to make application to the state board of stock
inspection commissioners or some duly authorized inspector of the board to have
the same inspected.
(3) In all cases of cattle, horses, or mules transported by rail, the place of
inspection shall be at some stockyard at the proposed point of shipment of such
animals. All cattle, horses, or mules to be transported by truck or by similar
conveyance within this state or beyond its boundaries shall be inspected at the
point of origin or some convenient unloading point en route designated by the state
board of stock inspection commissioners or one of its inspectors before being
transported from the state or within the state. Cattle, horses, or mules to be driven
beyond the boundaries of the state shall be inspected not less than three miles
from the state line or at some convenient point designated by the state board of
stock inspection commissioners or by one of its duly authorized brand inspectors
before being driven from the state.
(4) This section shall not apply to:
(a) Unbranded registered purebred horses leaving a Colorado licensed race
track that are accompanied by a bill of lading or statement showing the point of
loading and the destination;
(b) and (c) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 161, � 1, effective April 2, 1992.)
(d) Cattle, horses, or mules being driven or transported by truck to a
Colorado licensed public livestock market within the state, where Colorado brand
inspection is maintained, that are accompanied by a shipper's certificate and
agreement, signed by the owner or person in charge and showing the point of
origin, the point of destination, and the brands on such cattle, horses, or mules
being transported;
(e) Cattle being transported by truck to a Colorado licensed packing house
where all of the cattle slaughtered are inspected by a Colorado brand inspector
immediately prior to slaughter, accompanied by a shipper's certificate and
agreement, signed by the owner, showing the point of origin, the point of
destination, and the brands on such cattle being transported;
(f) Cattle, horses, or mules being driven or transported within the boundaries
of the state between established ranges, pastures, and properties owned, leased, or
under the control of the owner of such livestock, so long as such livestock are not
being driven or transported more than seventy-five miles from the point of origin
and are not changing ownership. If such livestock are being driven or transported by
road, the shortest passable road route shall be used. All such cattle, horses, or
mules being transported and excepted by this paragraph (f) shall be accompanied
by a statement, signed by the owner or person in charge, showing the point of origin
and the destination and the brands on such cattle, horses, or mules being
transported.
(g) Any registered purebred beef or dairy cattle being transported to or from
the national western stock show or the Colorado state fair, if such beef or dairy
cattle are accompanied by registration papers identifying the legal owner;
(h) (Deleted by amendment, L. 92, p. 161, � 1, effective April 2, 1992.)
(i) Any cattle, horses, or mules which are used in rodeo competition within
the state of Colorado and which are branded with the owner's state-recorded
ownership brand, together with a contest number identification brand, when being
transported between rodeos within the state of Colorado, but only if the same have
first been inspected by an authorized brand inspector and the fees therefor paid at
the beginning of the rodeo season before the cattle, horses, or mules have been
moved from the owner's headquarters unless circumstances arise which will justify
an inspection for brands by an authorized Colorado brand inspector. Inspection by
an authorized brand inspector and collection of the brand inspection fee shall be
required prior to any change of ownership or other disposal of such cattle, horses,
or mules. In addition, any cattle, horses, or mules purchased for use in rodeo
competition shall be inspected by a Colorado brand inspector and a Colorado brand
certificate issued before any such livestock is branded with the rodeo stock owner's
state-recorded ownership brand. The exemption granted by this paragraph (i) shall
not apply to any cattle, horses, or mules used in rodeo competition for which the
requirements of this paragraph (i) have not been met.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an authorized
Colorado brand inspector from investigating and inspecting any cattle, horses, or
mules being driven or transported in this state to determine if the requirements of
this section have been met. If no violations have occurred, no official inspection
shall be deemed to have been made nor shall any brand inspection fee be charged.
If any violation is found, the brand inspector may require an official inspection of
such livestock and collect the fee therefor, or may seek prosecution of the offender
pursuant to section 35-53-112, or both.