Wyoming Administrative Code Agency 051 - Livestock Board
1. What is the Wyoming Livestock Board?
The Wyoming Livestock Board is the state agency responsible for regulating, protecting, and promoting livestock health and management in Wyoming.
“Livestock” includes cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and other domesticated animals raised for agricultural purposes.
The board’s main job is to ensure the livestock industry in Wyoming is healthy, disease-free, and well-regulated.
It protects producers, consumers, and the state’s economy, since livestock is a major part of Wyoming’s agriculture and ranching industry.
2. Main Responsibilities of the Livestock Board
The Wyoming Livestock Board oversees:
Animal Health and Disease Control
Monitors and prevents the spread of livestock diseases (like brucellosis or tuberculosis).
Requires testing, vaccination, and quarantine when necessary.
Brand Registration and Ownership
Registers livestock brands to prove ownership.
Investigates brand disputes or theft.
Livestock Identification and Movement
Tracks animal movement between ranches, counties, and states.
Ensures compliance with transport and import/export regulations to prevent disease spread.
Animal Welfare Oversight
Ensures humane treatment of livestock.
Investigates complaints of neglect or abuse.
Licensing and Permits
Issues licenses for livestock dealers, markets, and slaughter facilities.
Regulates the sale and transportation of livestock.
Enforcement of Livestock Laws
Investigates violations of state livestock regulations.
Can impose fines, revoke licenses, or take legal action if rules are broken.
3. Agency 051 in the WAC
In the Wyoming Administrative Code, Agency 051 contains the rules and procedures governing the Wyoming Livestock Board. These rules explain:
Board Organization and Authority
Defines the composition of the board (members, appointments, terms).
Outlines powers and responsibilities under state law.
Branding Rules
How to register a new brand.
Procedures for changing or transferring brands.
Rules for enforcing brand protection and ownership claims.
Animal Health and Testing
Requirements for testing livestock for diseases.
Vaccination and quarantine protocols.
Rules for controlling outbreaks of contagious diseases.
Licensing and Regulation of Livestock Businesses
Licensing rules for livestock dealers, auctions, markets, and feedlots.
Recordkeeping and reporting requirements for these businesses.
Inspection and Enforcement
How the board inspects livestock facilities and animals.
Procedures for investigations, citations, and penalties.
Livestock Identification and Movement
Rules for tagging, branding, or otherwise identifying animals.
Movement permits for shipping livestock within and out of the state.
4. Why Agency 051 Matters
Agency 051 is critical because:
It protects Wyoming’s livestock industry from disease and theft.
Ensures that brands, ownership, and animal movement are clearly documented.
Helps maintain public confidence in the safety and integrity of Wyoming livestock.
Provides a legal framework for enforcement if violations occur.
Without these rules, disputes over ownership, disease outbreaks, or unregulated livestock trade could harm ranchers, consumers, and the state economy.
5. How Agency 051 Rules Are Organized
The rules are typically organized in Chapters and Sections, for example:
Chapter 1 – General Provisions
Definitions, authority, and scope of the Livestock Board.
Chapter 2 – Brand Registration and Ownership
Procedures for registering, transferring, and enforcing brands.
Chapter 3 – Animal Health and Disease Control
Testing, vaccination, quarantine, and disease reporting.
Chapter 4 – Licensing of Livestock Businesses
Requirements for dealers, markets, and slaughterhouses.
Chapter 5 – Inspections and Enforcement
Investigation procedures, penalties, and compliance rules.
Chapter 6 – Livestock Identification and Movement
Tagging, branding, and movement permits.
✅ Summary:
Agency 051 – Wyoming Livestock Board in the WAC sets the rules for protecting livestock health, regulating brands, tracking animal movement, licensing livestock businesses, and enforcing livestock laws. It ensures Wyoming’s livestock industry is safe, legally compliant, and economically stable.
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