Class III Wildlife Breeder: Inventory and Records Required

PURPOSE: This rule requires all Class III wildlife breeders to conduct and maintain records associated with herd inventory that will facilitate the tracking of movement, disease, and deaths for each facility. (1) Herd inventory records. (A) Except as provided in subsection (1)(B) of this rule for natural additions, herd inventory records must be complete, accurate, and up to date containing the following for each animal: all unique identification numbers, species, date of birth, gender, date of acquisition, complete address of source, complete address and name of current and previous owner, date of removal, destination of any animal removed, copies of all movement certificates (if department-provided database is not utilized), mortality date, cause of death (if known), official Chronic Wasting Disease test results for all animals twelve (12) months of age or older at time of death, and method and location of carcass disposal. These herd inventory records must be maintained to provide accountability for all purchases, sales, movement, births, and mortality. These records, including those authorized by subsection (1)(B) of this rule, shall be maintained on the premises of the wildlife breeder for a period of at least five (5) years or on a department-provided database and shall be subject to inspection and copying by an authorized agent of the department at any reasonable time. Refusal to allow access to, or copying of, inventory records shall constitute sufficient cause for the suspension or revocation of the permit. (B) The herd inventory requirements of this section will be satisfied for natural additions born during the current calendar year, provided— 1. The permittee maintains complete, accurate, and upto-date written or electronic records of all natural additions born during the calendar year and copies of such records are submitted to the department by September 1 of the current calendar year. Permittees maintaining records of all natural additions to their herd in accordance with subsection (1)(A) of this rule on a form or database provided by the department are exempt from the September 1 submission requirement of this paragraph; 2. Births, mortalities, or any other change in the status of a natural addition occurring after the written or electronic records described in paragraph (1)(B)1. are submitted to the department, or occurring on or after September 1 of the current calendar year, whichever occurs first, are documented on the herd inventory as required in subsection (1)(A) of this rule on a form or database provided by the department; 3. All natural additions living on September 1 of the current calendar year are documented on the herd inventory as required by subsection (1)(A) of this rule on a form or database provided by the department no later than the March 31 reconciliation deadline established by this rule; and 4. The department reserves the right to require maintenance of herd inventory records in accordance with subsection (1)(A) of this rule only on a form or database provided by the department if the requirements of this subsection are not followed or if there are documented discrepancies between the records provided by the permittee and animals held in confinement. The authorization to keep and submit written or electronic records as described in this subsection for natural additions is conditioned upon continuous compliance with this subsection and such authorization may be withdrawn upon written notification from the department. (2) Each Class III wildlife breeder will complete an annual physical herd inventory in the presence of an accredited veterinarian in which all animals within the herd are visually inspected. Individual identification must be verified and recorded on a herd inventory signed by the accredited veterinarian. Any animal in which identification cannot be visually inspected will be restrained by the permit holder. An inventory of all animals shall be maintained on a form or database provided by the department, kept accurate and up to date, and reconciled by March 31 each year. Printed copies of these forms can be obtained from the Missouri Department of Conservation, PO Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0180 and online at www.missouriconservation.org. Any animal not accounted for on the herd inventory by March 31 each year shall constitute an eligible mortality required to be tested for CWD under 3 CSR 10-9.354, and a valid replacement sample must be provided. (3) Movement certificates must be retained in paper form or on a database provided by the department. AUTHORITY: sections 40 and 45 of Art. IV, Mo. Const., and section 252.040, RSMo 2016.* Original rule filed Jan. 22, 2021, effective Aug. 30, 2021. Amended: Filed Oct. 3, 2025, effective April 30, 2026. *Original authority: 252.040, RSMo 1945, amended 1989.