to everything west of the Missouri River,” he continued. This is the boundary between east and west – from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico – since traditionally it was open range country west of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. Sale barns started showing up in South Dakota by the 1940s, since people were no longer shipping as many cattle east on the railroads. “In 1942 the state hired their first Chief Inspector and began inspecting all the cattle sold in western South Dakota. We used to return 600 to 800 strays each year,” explained Reed.
tor in 1960, when I got out of the Navy,” Reed said.
through those big markets,” he
He also worked as a Wyoming inspector in Torrington for 10 years. “They had a comprehensive program, looking at everything in the alleys at every sale barn and stock yard. We cleared them out by pen numbers. In South Dakota they just clear them out by name. I was the last brand inspector to be on an open market; I was at Sioux Falls for three years in the early 1970s, and then they moved me out here. That was quite a deal, inspecting all the cattle that went
Every state does it a little dif-
said. ferently, but there are inspectors in every region or county who look at every animal that is sold or moves across state lines. “Wyoming has a county-to-county inspection. You need an inspection to leave the brand area. You are also required to have a brand inspection when selling more than 5 head, just on change of ownership – even if you are just selling to your neighbor. By law you are
“Years ago, there was some brand inspection east of the Missouri River, but those counties had to vote to be included. Today, it’s just the western part of the state. The brand is still our only legal proof of ownership,” he said. “The Stockgrowers took care of brand inspection until 2008 and then the state Brand Board took it over. I worked as Chief Brand Inspector for the Stockgrowers from 1992 until 2008. I first went to work for them as a local inspec-
Selling:
40 Powerful Yearling Angus Bulls backed by great carcass genetics
Offering includes sons of: Connealy Stimulus 8419- 9 head Hoover Dam- 8 head SydGen Mandate 6079- 5 head HA Program 5652- 4 head Final Answer 924 SDG - 3 head Mytty In Focus -2 head Sitz Uncommon - 1 head
Bred and managed to survive, thrive and produce in a tough environment.
Stomprud s s a Angus r G t r o h S le GenetulilcSas
9th Annual
Larry Stomprud
B
605-484-3758 stomprudangus@gwtc.net
Monday, April 22, 2013 1:00 p.m. • Faith Livestock, Faith, SD
winter Cattle Journal 2013 H Tri-State Livestock News
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