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Brands division reports equipment upgrades and market staffing; centralized services outlines predator-control and loss-claim programs
Summary
The Department of Livestock’s brands enforcement and centralized services administrators briefed legislators on completed upgrades, market staffing changes, and statutory programs including predator control and the Livestock Loss Board’s indemnity and prevention grants.
The department’s brands enforcement and centralized services divisions briefed the committee on recent equipment purchases, market staffing adjustments, and statutory programs funded outside the main budget bill.
Jay Bodner, brands division administrator, described the division’s mission: “Our purpose of the brands division is to protect Montana livestock interest from theft and other livestock crimes,” and gave updated counts and operational details for markets and law enforcement coverage.
Why it matters: The brands division provides the state’s primary livestock law-enforcement presence, operates 12 livestock markets, maintains roughly 51,000 recorded brands and oversees deputy stock inspectors who assist local enforcement. Changes to staffing and systems can affect livestock commerce and theft prevention across the state.
What the brands division told lawmakers: - The brands program…
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