Livestock Dealer Licensing

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All livestock dealers must be licensed with the Montana Department of Livestock before they can perform livestock dealer activity in Montana. In order to obtain a Montana livestock dealer license, specific requirements must be met. The requirements are discussed bellow.

Montana livestock dealer defined:

Section 81-8-213(6) of Montana Code Annotated defines a livestock dealer as a person engaged in the business of purchasing livestock:

• for immediate resale (reselling livestock within 60 days of purchasing the livestock)
  
• for interstate shipment
  
• on a commission or fee basis:
  
  • for the account of others
    
  • for or on behalf of a livestock dealer or market

Section 81-8-271 of Montana Code Annotated, requires that a person who wishes to operate as a livestock dealer in Montana obtain a Montana livestock dealer license. The requirements of obtaining an initial Montana livestock dealer license are as follows:

• The Application for a Montana Livestock Dealer License must be completed and notarized.
  
• The applicant must provide proof of proper bonding, or its equivalent, with the Packers & Stockyards Programs of the United States Department of Agriculture.
  
• The applicant must submit a license fee for each person who intends to act as an agent for the applicant. The license fee for new applications is $50.00 for each person conducting livestock dealer or order-buying activity on behalf of the applicant.
  
• The applicant must provide either a signed and dated Affirmation Sheet or a detailed balance sheet. The Affirmation Sheet is a statement where the applicant agrees that the total assets of the applicant are greater than the total liabilities. The applicant also agrees with the statement on the Affirmation Sheet that the current assets are also greater than the current liabilities.
  
  If the Affirmation Sheet is signed by the applicant, the applicant is subject to criminal prosecution if the statements (on the Affirmation Sheet), attested to by the applicant, are willfully false or misrepresented to the Montana Department of Livestock.
  
  If a balance sheet is submitted (instead of an Affirmation Sheet), it should indicate that total assets of the applicant are greater than total liabilities. And, the balance sheet should indicate that the applicant's current assets are greater than the current liabilities.

Section 81-8-276 of Montana Code Annotated, requires that all previously licensed Montana livestock dealers must renew their licenses with the Montana Department of Livestock by May 1st of each year. The renewal of licenses requires that the annual fees ($100 for each person operating on behalf of the previously licensed dealer) and a new Affirmation Sheet or recent balance sheet be submitted on behalf of the licensed dealer.

If you have any questions regarding livestock dealer licensing, please feel free to contact the Montana Department of Livestock, Brands Enforcement Division (Helena, MT). The phone number is (406) 444-2045.

To obtain a printable copy of the three-page Application for a Montana Livestock Dealer License, and the Affirmation Sheet, click here.