The Colorado Agricultural Commission has given the go-ahead for an emergency rule to protect the state's livestock while allowing cattle feeders access to sufficient supplies of feeder stock.
The Colorado Import Approved Feedlot program sets entry processes for cattle transported from states with downgraded disease status, including feedyard perimeter requirements, on-site feedyard inspections and record keeping requirements.
"The primary purpose of the emergency rule is to protect Colorado's breeding herds and allow our cattle feeders to remain competitive with other states," says Keith Roehr, assistant Colorado state veterinarian.
Currently, six states have lost or may lose their disease-free status for brucellosis and tuberculosis. Colorado cattle feeders and ranchers rely on those states for cattle to feed to harvest weights.
Feedyard operators must apply to be come approved import feedlot companies, and all cattle within that feedyard must go to a U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected processing facility, other slaughter plants approved by the state veterinarian's office, or to another Colorado Import Approved Feedlot.
A feedlot will not be registered under the CIAF until the Colorado Department of Agriculture has approved the application. Onsite inspections are used to insure that the feedlot meets the requirements and proves it can comply with the individual animal identification and approved feedlot facility record-keeping requirements.
Such feedlot registration expires within a year unless the facility fails to comply with the regulations during that period. However, a feedlot may apply for re-registration prior to such termination.
Feedlot requirements call for an inventory of all livestock confined on the registered business. A record through brand inspection of all cattle exiting the facility for slaughter is also required.
Records must be readily available to state veterinarians each year as requested.
For more information, as well as application forms, visit www.colorado/gov.ag and click on "Colorado Import Approved Feedlots."