Policy 3.5 - Livestock Ownership and Control

Effective Date: 31-March-97
Responsible Branch: Forest Practices Branch

Resource Management Volume Table of Contents | Amendment Log

Scope

This policy covers the requirements for ownership or control of livestock which are grazed on Crown range.

Policy

Grazing tenure holders must own or control all livestock grazed on Crown range (Range Act, s.5, 6, 15).

Ownership of Livestock

The owner of livestock is:

• the person who can sell the livestock, and to whom financial benefits or losses accrue
• a person or family who controls a corporation which owns the livestock, or
• an agent of either of the above

Control of Livestock

The tenure holder has control of livestock if:

• the livestock are leased, and the lease is acceptable to the District Manager, or
• the tenure holder is using livestock owned by a feeder association, and the agreement between them confers control of the livestock to the tenure holder in a manner acceptable to the District Manager

Exceptions

The District Manager may decide not to apply this policy for:

• bulls, which may be leased by the tenure holder or a group of tenure holders, or
• livestock required by commercial horse operators during the active business season

Proof of Ownership or Control

All livestock approved for turnout onto Crown range must be branded or marked in a manner approved by the District Manager. These animals are referred to as approved livestock.

In addition to branding or marking, the District Manager may also require that approved livestock be tagged in a specified manner (Range Practices Regulation, s. 8).

If livestock are not branded with a registered brand (as per the Livestock Brand Act) of which the tenure holder is the registered owner, proof of ownership or control must be provided to the District Manager upon request at least two weeks prior to turnout.

As proof of ownership, the District Manager may require a Bill of Sale as described in the Livestock Brand Act regulation.

Leased Livestock

The District Manager, following consultation with the local livestock association, may approve leased livestock when they constitute up to but not more than 50% of the tenure holder's authorized herd.

Leases must be for a minimum term of three years.

Only brood cows and bred heifers which the tenure holder intends to keep as replacement or additional brood cows may be leased.

The District Manager will require leased livestock to be marked by the lessor with an identification brand as provided for in the Livestock Brand Act, or marked in another manner acceptable to the District Manager.

Inspection

Livestock approved for turnout onto Crown range must be available for inspection on the tenure holder's ranch base, appurtenant lands, or other location approved by the District Manager, at least two weeks prior to turnout, or at any other reasonable time as required by the District Manager. Any other conditions required by the District Manager, consistent with the Range Act, regulations, and policies, must be met.

A tenure will be suspended or cancelled if the tenure holder has livestock on Crown range which have not been approved by the District Manager (Range Act, s. 31, 35; Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s. 98).

A tenure may be suspended or cancelled if the tenure holder:

• fails to tag or mark approved livestock as directed by the District Manager, or
• fails to report the loss of tags

References

• Livestock Act
• Livestock Brand Act
• Range Act, s.5, 6, 15, 31, 35
• Range Practices Regulation, s. 8
• Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act, s.98