Feedlot registration

1. Any person who operates a dry lot cattle feeding operation within the confines of permanently fenced lots may make application to the chief brand inspector of the association for a registered feedlot number and permit. After the association has received application and a fee, an agent of the association, within thirty days, shall make investigation to determine that the following requirements are satisfied: a. Operator's lots must be of permanently fenced dry lot status. b. Operator must commonly practice feeding cattle to finish for slaughter. 2. Commercial feedlots, which custom feed cattle for other persons, and do not have ownership of the cattle, are not eligible for registered feedlot numbers and permits. a. Producers intending to have cattle fed at a commercial lot may apply for a registered feedlot permit individually and the operators of a commercial lot are responsible for submitting the necessary documentation on behalf of the producers. b. The association may issue a registration number and permit valid for ten years unless rescinded for cause. 3. All cattle placed in a registered feedlot must be accompanied by a brand inspection certificate. Such certificate may be a market clearance, a local brand inspection certificate, or a recognized brand inspection certificate from another state. a. Cattle purchased or acquired by a registered feedlot operator from a North Dakota producer must be inspected before being mixed with other cattle and the producer shall pay inspection costs. b. Cattle raised by a registered feedlot operator and placed in the operator's own feedlot must be inspected at the time they are placed in the feedlot and the regular inspection fee shall be paid by the operator. c. Cattle to be placed in a registered feedlot which come from outside the state, but which are not accompanied by a brand inspection certificate, must be inspected without charge before being mixed with other cattle. 4. The operator of a registered feedlot shall maintain certain cattle inventory records. The chief brand inspector shall prescribe a permit form for this purpose. The form must show number of cattle in the lot, number sold, date and place where cattle were sold, number of cattle remaining in the lot, number of replacement cattle placed in the lot, and such other information as may be necessary, including death losses. a. Cattle shipped from a registered feedlot directly to the final slaughter location are not subject to brand inspection or payment of inspection fees at the market. These cattle must be shipped on a chief brand inspector permit form. This form must be made in triplicate: (1) One copy must be delivered to the brand inspector at the market along with shipment; (2) One copy must be sent to the chief brand inspector along with the fees no later than ten days after the end of each quarter (quarters being March, June, September, December) for those cattle shipped during the previous three months; and (3) One copy must be retained by the operator. b. If the above permit form fails to accompany shipment of cattle to market, cattle are subject to inspection and regular fees must be charged for the service. c. The operator of a registered feedlot shall pay an annual assessment of twenty-five dollars plus fifty cents per head on each head shipped on the above permit form. Operators will be billed the twenty-five dollar portion of the annual assessment by the chief brand inspector in December for the annual assessment of the following year. 5. Cattle sold from a registered feedlot, but which are not sold for slaughter, must be inspected and the seller bears the cost of inspection at the regular fee. 6. Registered feedlots are subject to inspection at any reasonable time at the discretion of the chief brand inspector, and the operator shall show cattle inventory records and inspection certificates to cover all cattle in the operator's feedlot. 7. The chief brand inspector, for good cause, may suspend or revoke a registration.