Committee hears bill to remove century-old ink-stamp requirement for slaughtered livestock

Senator Josh Kasmeier, sponsor of Senate Bill 78, told the Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee the measure would “simply eliminat[e] the ink stamp requirement on the carcasses when the animal's killed in the feed lots,” arguing the practice is outdated and places an undue burden on processing facilities.

Jay Bodner, brands division administrator for the Department of Livestock, said the ink‑stamp requirement dates “to at least 1931” and is separate from modern meat‑inspection processes. He described two ownership‑verification options that remain in law: a pre‑slaughter brand inspection that produces a paper inspection sheet producers can bring to processors, or a post‑slaughter hide inspection. Bodner said processors increasingly require pre‑slaughter inspection because hides are often discarded and brand inspectors at every facility would be impractical.

Industry groups told the committee they support the change. “We believe it cleans up statute and we appreciate that,” said Ellie Bridal of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Eric Somerfeld of the Montana Farmers Union echoed that the bill aligns statute with current practice and that there are not enough brand inspectors to implement an ink‑stamp requirement.

Committee members asked technical questions about what the historical stamp contained and how the department verifies ownership without a carcass stamp. Bodner said the imprint appeared to be a number tied to brand inspection records and emphasized that brand inspection options in statute would remain in force.

The sponsor asked the committee for a do‑pass recommendation. The transcript records committee discussion and questions but no formal vote on SB 78.