DOL now listing estrayed livestock on-line

DOL now listing estrayed livestock on-line

DOL – Montana Department of Livestock has gone live with its new online estray notice system.

Senate Bill 104, which called for revisions to Montana Code Annotated 81-4-603 and was widely supported during the state’s most recent legislative session.

Notices for estrayed livestock can be found on the department’s web site at http://liv.mt.gov/liv/BE/estray/estrays.asp, and will also be published in the official county newspaper where the estray was found. All notices will contain the sale date and location for estray as well as a general description that includes sex, an illustration of the brand and brand location, and location where the estray was found.

Prior to passage of SB 104, estrays had to be held for 30-60 days rather than 10-30 days, and notices had to be published at least once a week for four consecutive weeks. With horse abandonment on the increase, the costs of boarding estrayed horses and publishing notices was quickly adding up for the department.

“It was becoming a costly endeavor,” said John Grainger, MDOL Brands Division administrator. “We’re estimating that the revisions to 81-4-603 will save the department about $6,000 a year.”