Law

Title 11 Agriculture, Livestock and Other Animals

Wyoming · 11 · statute

Ask the law about this More laws of Wyoming For machines: Markdown

Open at the publisher →

The publisher does not state since when this version applies. Read on 2026-11-07.

Copy read on 2026-11-07. The page it was read from

sha256 68f78b4ee97c0320e63f69b4e3e5d45518fd409be70bffda4b6f8e1dcd2fbcf4

Contents: 779 provisions

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

779 provisions

11-19-212. Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Propose a change

11-19-213. Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Propose a change

11-19-214. Disposition of diseased livestock.

All livestock animals in Wyoming, including those belonging to a producer on the Wind River Indian Reservation who receives services pursuant to W.S. 11-19-101(d), found to be affected with or exposed to tuberculosis may be disposed on the origin premises or transported under the direction of the state veterinarian directly to an approved slaughter facility, rendering facility or veterinary diagnostic laboratory in accordance with federal regulations. Producers may be eligible for indemnification as provided in W.S. 11-19-106 for any livestock animal ordered disposed pursuant to this section.

Propose a change

11-19-215. Prohibited acts; penalties.

Any person who intentionally interferes with, refuses to assist in gathering and testing his livestock animals, or hinders the work of the state veterinarian or his employees under this act, or who attempts to defeat the object of the tuberculin test by a previous injection of tuberculin commonly known as "plugging," or in any way attempts to prevent an accurate and truthful determination of the condition of the livestock animals tested, shall be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103.

Propose a change

11-19-301. Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Propose a change

11-19-302. Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Repealed By Laws 2013, Ch 12, § 2.

Propose a change

11-19-303. Appropriations by counties for control of diseases.

The board of county commissioners may appropriate as much money as it deems necessary for the control and eradication of any infectious, contagious or communicable diseases of livestock. The funds shall be used in cooperation with the state veterinarian or the United States department of agriculture, animal and plant health inspection service (APHIS) in testing animals and disposing of diseased animals disclosed by the tests as provided by law.

Propose a change

11-19-304. Prohibition on importation of cattle or bison; penalties.

Any person bringing cattle or bison into any tuberculosis accredited-free area except in compliance with the rules and regulations made by the state veterinarian shall upon conviction be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103.

Propose a change

11-19-305. Powers of state veterinarian.

The state veterinarian may make and enforce rules and regulations necessary for the enforcement of W.S. 11-19-303 through 11-19-306.

Propose a change

11-19-306. Penalties for violation of rules and regulations.

Any person who violates any lawful rule or regulation made by the state veterinarian pursuant to W.S. 11-19-305 is guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction, shall be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103.

Propose a change

11-19-401. Tagging, branding and disposition of cattle reacting to test; penalties for failure to comply.

All livestock animals in Wyoming reacting to a confirmatory test for brucellosis (Bang's disease) may be immediately permanently branded with a hot iron letter "B" on the left tailhead by or in the presence of an officially authorized veterinarian. All such reactor livestock animals shall be disposed of for slaughter or diagnostic purposes only, upon and according to written instruction from the Wyoming livestock board. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be punished as provided in W.S. 11-1-103. As used in this section, "confirmatory test" means a test for brucellosis that has the specificity and sensitivity to verify the presence or absence of brucella abortus in animal serum or tissues and is used to confirm results from an initial brucellosis test.

Propose a change

11-19-402. Breeding cattle and bison entering state to

show evidence of negative test or vaccination for brucellosis; exceptions. All breeding cattle and bison entering Wyoming shall be accompanied by a proper health certificate showing evidence of a negative blood test for brucellosis made within thirty (30) days prior to entry, or evidence of being officially vaccinated by a licensed veterinarian during calfhood against brucellosis. Breeding cattle and bison originating from brucellosis free areas and from certified brucellosis free herds entering Wyoming may be exempt from this section but must be accompanied by a proper health certificate.

Propose a change

11-19-403. When cattle or bison exempt from provisions.

Breeding cattle and bison entering Wyoming for the purpose of feeding only may be exempt from the requirements of W.S. 11-19-402 if they are placed under quarantine by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Wyoming livestock board.

Propose a change

11-19-404. Applicability of provisions.

The Wyoming livestock board shall determine which of the requirements set forth in W.S. 11-19-402 through 11-19-404 apply to the various counties or areas within Wyoming.

Propose a change

11-19-405. Control of brucellosis; governor authorized to negotiate with federal agencies.

(a) To preserve the brucellosis-free status of this state, the governor shall enter into negotiations with any relevant parties including appropriate federal agencies and tribes of the regions adjacent to Wyoming on steps necessary to ensure brucellosis is not passed from wildlife to livestock. (b) The governor may direct any state agency to take any actions needed to ensure brucellosis does not spread from wildlife to livestock. (c) In the event of a confirmed outbreak of brucellosis, the governor may authorize the state veterinarian, with the approval of the Wyoming livestock board, to require brucellosis testing of all test eligible bovine or domestic bison at the farm or ranch of origin or any licensed Wyoming livestock market prior to a change of ownership for a period of up to eighteen (18) months. At the end of the required testing period, the state veterinarian shall review the testing requirement and may reimpose brucellosis testing for one (1) or more successive periods under this subsection if there is deemed by the state veterinarian to be a threat to Wyoming's brucellosis free status or if the state is designated as brucellosis class A or lower status. (d) The state veterinarian may direct any Wyoming brand inspector to withhold a brand inspection for movement or change of ownership to any person who has not shown evidence of any required brucellosis test. (e) As part of the state brucellosis surveillance and prevention program, the state veterinarian may require brucellosis testing of any test eligible bovine or domestic bison at any licensed Wyoming livestock market at any time. Failure to comply shall result in a suspension of the livestock market's license. (f) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be punished as provided by W.S. 11-1-103.

Propose a change

11-19-406. Sale of diseased cattle or domestic bison.

All cattle or domestic bison in Wyoming, including those belonging to a producer on the Wind River Indian Reservation who receives services pursuant to W.S. 11-19-101(d), lawfully found to be affected with brucellosis, including all sexually intact cattle or domestic bison that are part of a herd found to be affected with brucellosis, may be shipped or transported under the direction of the state veterinarian to livestock markets and sold for immediate slaughter or transferred to an approved slaughter facility or veterinary diagnostic laboratory in accordance with federal regulations. Payments under this section shall not be made by the state for any sexually intact female cattle or bison which are over twelve (12) months old and which are not official calfhood vaccinates as provided in board rule and regulation. Producers may be eligible for indemnification in accordance with W.S. 11-19-106 for any livestock ordered disposed pursuant to this section.

Propose a change

11-19-407. Brucellosis testing program.

(a) The livestock board shall develop a brucellosis surveillance program in any designated surveillance area as defined by the livestock board and any temporary surveillance area designated by the board and approved by the governor as an area where risk of exposure to documented infected wildlife is of concern. The program may be conducted with the help of veterinary practitioners and livestock auction markets. This program shall provide for the testing of livestock for brucellosis, for spaying heifers and for adult vaccinations only to the extent that may be reasonably necessary to maintain or to regain the brucellosis-free status of the state of Wyoming. Compensation under this program for all purposes except mandatory testing or testing within a temporary surveillance area as designated by the board and approved by the governor shall be pursuant to the terms of a brucellosis mitigation plan that has been entered into between the livestock producer and the Wyoming state veterinarian. (b) The compensation for brucellosis surveillance testing, spaying heifers and adult vaccinations shall be paid at not less than one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) per head and not more than eight dollars ($8.00) per head of cattle actually tested, spayed or adult vaccinated. Compensation for brucellosis testing, spaying or adult vaccinating may include the purchase of brucellosis testing, spaying or adult vaccinating equipment, supplies and postage. (c) Payments under subsection (b) of this section shall be made monthly directly to accredited veterinarians who perform brucellosis testing, spaying, adult vaccinating and surveillance planning or to livestock auction markets that use their facilities and veterinarians to conduct brucellosis testing, spaying or adult vaccinating as mandated by rule of the Wyoming livestock board or the United States department of agriculture animal and plant health inspection service. The payment shall be made upon receipt by the Wyoming livestock board of documentation in the format and manner specified by board rule.

Propose a change

11-19-501. When notice of importation to be made; contents; applicability of rules and regulations of board.

(a) Any person intending to bring or cause to be brought any sheep from any other state or territory, the District of Columbia or any foreign country into Wyoming in any manner except by shipping them through the state by railroad or truck, shall, ten (10) days before crossing the state line, notify the executive officer of the board of the proposed action. The notice shall set forth the number of sheep, the brands or marks thereon, the name of the owner and the locality from which the sheep came and through which they have been driven. (b) Sheep trailed or shipped into the state from adjoining states for immediate interstate shipment or for show and exhibition purposes, sheep grazing along and across state lines, and sheep shipped from any part of this state to feed yards in any other part of the state when shipment is made by interstate route, are governed by the rules and regulations of the board.

Propose a change

11-19-502. Unloading sheep in transit prohibited; exception; cost of enforcement.

Any sheep in transit through this state shall not be unloaded for any purpose except for feeding, and shall be held in the feed yards or in grazing grounds and not allowed to leave. All expenses of enforcing this section shall be paid by the owner of the sheep.

Propose a change

11-19-503. Bringing infected sheep into state prohibited.

It is unlawful for any person to bring into this state any sheep infected with any infectious or contagious disease, or that have been exposed to such disease.

Propose a change

11-19-504. Refusal to give information deemed misdemeanor.

Any herder or other person in charge of sheep who willfully refuses to give an inspector information as to the condition of sheep in his charge is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by W.S. 11-19-506.

Propose a change

11-19-505. Owners to be jointly and severally liable; when arrest necessary; service of summons and complaint.

In any action arising under W.S. 11-19-501 through 11-19-505, all persons owning or having control of the sheep concerning which the action is had, are liable severally and jointly. In criminal actions, no arrest is necessary except in case of nonresident persons, but a summons containing notice of the time and place of trial, together with a copy of the complaint filed in a circuit court, or in the court in which the action is commenced, shall be served in the same manner and for the length of time provided by law for the service of summons in civil cases.

Propose a change

11-19-506. Penalties.

Any person who violates W.S. 11-19-501 through 11-19-505 shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) or imprisoned not more than one (1) year, or both.

Propose a change

11-19-601. Findings; purposes.

(a) The interaction of livestock and wildlife may lead to mutual or shared diseases. Some of these diseases may have the potential to adversely affect Wyoming's livestock producers and influence the management of Wyoming's free-ranging wildlife. Research into these diseases may provide strategies or solutions that benefit Wyoming's livestock industries and wildlife resources. (b) The purpose of the Wyoming wildlife/livestock disease research partnership is to utilize existing personnel and facilities of the state, to identify funding sources, to enhance wildlife and livestock disease research in the state, and to understand, manage, control and preempt potentially mutual or shared diseases that may impact wildlife, livestock or humans.

Propose a change

11-19-602. Wyoming wildlife/livestock disease research partnership board created; membership; duties; purposes.

(a) There is created the wildlife/livestock disease research partnership board within the department. The board shall consist of the following members or their designees: (i) The director of the department; (ii) The director of the Wyoming game and fish department; (iii) The vice-president for research at the University of Wyoming; (iv) The director of the Wyoming state veterinary laboratory; and (v) The state veterinarian. (b) The board shall: (i) Accept funding from all sources, including federal, state and local governments and private donations to carry out the purposes of this article; (ii) Leverage funds received to match other funds that may be available to the board; (iii) Deposit funds received into the account created by W.S. 11-19-603. No funds may be withdrawn or otherwise expended without the specific consent of at least three (3) members of the board; (iv) Accept, review and prioritize research proposals submitted to the board; (v) Seek support for programs and projects consistent with the purposes of the board; (vi) Allocate funds for research which serve the goals of understanding, managing, controlling or preempting potentially mutual or shared diseases that impact wild and domestic animals or humans in the state; (vii) Allocate funds for monitoring, tracking and conducting disease surveillance before and following the introduction of bighorn sheep in the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit. (c) In approving research requests for funding, the board shall first consider any requests for funding from the Wyoming game and fish department, the University of Wyoming, the Wyoming department of agriculture and the Wyoming livestock board. After consideration of requests from those state agencies, the board may consider requests from other entities. (d) All research projects requesting funding from the board shall be submitted to the board in a form and manner specified by the board. The approval of not less than three (3) members of the board shall be required prior to funding of a project with funds received under this section.

Propose a change

11-19-603. Account created.

There is created a wildlife/livestock disease research partnership account. Funds from this account shall be used only for purposes specified in W.S. 11-19-601 through 11-19-605. Any interest earned on the account shall remain within the account.

Propose a change

11-19-604. Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan.

(a) The Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan shall be developed and maintained by rule and regulation as provided in this section to address potential conflicts arising out of the interaction between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep within the state. The final report and recommendations from the Wyoming state-wide bighorn/domestic sheep interaction working group dated September 2004 together with appendices A through N as adopted by the group is adopted as the initial Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan under this section and shall continue as revised or amended until repealed or nullified pursuant to law. (b) Rules and regulations necessary to administer this article shall be promulgated jointly by the game and fish commission, the board of agriculture and the livestock board. The game and fish commission, the board of agriculture and the livestock board may jointly consider recommendations for changes to the plan and may revise or amend the plan through the rulemaking process pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act. (c) The goal of the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan shall be to maintain the health of bighorn sheep populations while sustaining an economically viable domestic sheep population. (d) The most current version of the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan shall be published on the website of the game and fish commission. (e) In conformance with the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan the game and fish department may relocate or remove bighorn sheep to another area of the state if a federal judicial action or agency decision would require elimination of domestic sheep grazing in any area or herd unit designated in the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan as a nonemphasis herd. The game and fish department shall be reimbursed for the costs of relocation or removal of sheep under this subsection from funds available in the wildlife/livestock disease research partnership account.

Propose a change

11-19-605. Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep relocation and

removal; legislative findings; reimbursement; attorney general action. (a) The legislature finds and declares that it is the state's policy to vigorously defend its interests in maintaining and enhancing viable livestock grazing operations on public lands in conjunction with the conservation and maintenance of healthy bighorn sheep populations in the state of Wyoming. These two (2) policies are mutually compatible as demonstrated since the adoption of the collaboratively developed Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan in 2004, which was codified into law under W.S. 11-19-604 in 2015. The legislature further finds and declares that: (i) Reintroduction of bighorn sheep and management action to protect existing populations of bighorn sheep on federal public lands has been effectively accomplished in conformance with the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan; (ii) It is the policy of the state of Wyoming to accept any risk of contact between bighorn sheep and livestock in the vicinity of any bighorn sheep transplant or relocation and to hold livestock producers harmless in the event such contact occurs; (iii) All wildlife in the state of Wyoming is the property of the state, and it is the policy of the state to provide an adequate and flexible system for control, propagation, management, protection and regulation of all Wyoming wildlife; (iv) Any removal of bighorn sheep from the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit under this act shall not be attributable to domestic livestock grazing on federal bureau of land management administered lands. Rather, the removal of bighorn sheep shall be directly attributable to: (A) Onerous federal regulation that unduly impedes the state of Wyoming's ability to manage wildlife and domestic livestock grazing in conformance with the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan; (B) Third-party action designed to use bighorn sheep as a means of eliminating domestic livestock grazing on bureau of land management administered lands within or in the vicinity of the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit. (v) The provisions of this section shall be enforced by the state. (b) In conformance with the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan in W.S. 11-19-604 and pursuant to W.S. 23-1-103, the game and fish department shall relocate or remove all bighorn sheep from the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit if any federal judicial action or federal agency action requires or indicates it may require the following: (i) The elimination, reduction or suspension of domestic livestock grazing or trailing in the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit; or (ii) Any changes to a United States bureau of land management resource management plan, grazing allotment plan or livestock grazing permit terms and conditions due to the presence of bighorn sheep in the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit or grazing allotment in that vicinity that is not in a designated bighorn sheep herd unit after July 1, 2024 without the consent of the grazing permittee. (c) Any relocation or removal of bighorn sheep from the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit required by subsection (b) of this section shall commence as soon as practicable but not later than six (6) months after the Wyoming department of agriculture certifies to the governor that a condition specified in subsection (b) of this section is met. The governor shall notify the game and fish department that the removal of bighorn sheep from the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit shall commence in accordance with this section. (d) The game and fish department shall be responsible for the expedient removal of bighorn sheep that stray outside the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit if that straying or foray is not into another designated bighorn sheep herd unit. (e) The state and its agencies shall coordinate and assist the Wyoming congressional delegation in pursuing changes to federal law, rules and policies in order to bring them into conformance with the policies and findings of the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan created under W.S. 11-19-604. (f) The Wyoming game and fish department shall not seek to change, alter or otherwise affect changes to domestic livestock grazing authorization on public and state lands due to the presence of bighorn sheep in the Sweetwater Rocks herd unit or grazing allotments in that vicinity that are not within an existing bighorn sheep herd unit. (g) The game and fish department shall be reimbursed for the costs of relocation or removal of bighorn sheep pursuant to subsection (b) of this section from any available funds in the wildlife/livestock disease research partnership account created by W.S. 11-19-603. (h) With the approval of the governor, the attorney general shall seek to intervene in any lawsuit if a federal action is contrary to the state's policy regarding Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section or that is inconsistent with the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan. (j) With the approval of the governor, the attorney general shall file an action against any federal agency to stop the enforcement, administration or implementation of any federal agency rule, instructional memo, handbook or other action taken by a federal agency if the rule, instructional memo, handbook or other action is contrary to the Wyoming bighorn/domestic sheep plan or is otherwise contrary to law.

Propose a change

11-20-101. Definitions.

(a) As used in this act: (i) "Agency" means the corporation, if any, designated by the board as its authorized representative to carry out the functions to be performed by the board and if there is no such agency, then it means the board; (ii) "Board" means the Wyoming livestock board; (iii) "Inspectors" means those persons appointed by the agency to execute the duties prescribed by law, rules, regulations and orders for the protection of the livestock industry in Wyoming; (iv) "Livestock" means cattle, horses, mules, asses and sheep. The board acting in conjunction with the game and fish commission may designate individual bison or identifiable herds of bison as wildlife; (v) "Stock drover" means any person driving livestock through any county in Wyoming; (vi) "Stock owner" means any person who owns livestock; (vii) "This act" means W.S. 11-19-101 through 11-19-506, 11-20-101 through 11-24-115 and 11-30-101 through 11-30-115; (viii) "Brand" means a brand, mark or other board approved means of identification including any electronic device used for livestock identification.

Propose a change

11-20-102. Stock running at large to be branded.

Every stock owner allowing his livestock over six (6) months old to run at large or mingle with livestock other than his own, shall brand his livestock with his recorded brand.

Propose a change

11-20-103. Brands; application; contents; recording fees; refund; disposition thereof.

(a) Any person desiring to adopt any brand to be used to brand livestock in this state, shall before using the brand make application to the Wyoming livestock board. The application shall: (i) Contain a facsimile or a description of the brand; (ii) State the species of livestock for which the brand is to be used; (iii) State the place on the animal where the brand will be applied, and whether it is to be applied with hot iron, paint, tattoo or other means; (iv) Repealed By Laws 1996, ch. 25, § 2. (b) The application shall be accompanied by a recording fee of not less than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the first species of livestock and not less than seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for each additional species of livestock for which the brand is to be used. In the event a brand is not recorded, twenty-five percent (25%) of the recording fee shall be retained by the Wyoming livestock board and the balance of the fee shall be refunded to the applicant. A certified copy of the recorded brand shall be given to the owner. All fees collected shall be deposited into the account created by W.S. 11-20-405. (c) Repealed By Laws 2010, Ch. 69, § 204.

Propose a change

11-20-104. Brands; recording generally.

Upon receipt of the application and fee the brand shall be recorded in the state brand record. If the brand has been previously recorded the executive officer of the board shall suggest a brand that can be recorded. The executive officer of the board shall not record any brand which in his opinion would conflict with any brand of record.

Propose a change

11-20-105. Brands; extension to other species.

If a recorded brand is used exclusively for the identification of a particular species of livestock, the executive officer of the board may record the identical brand in the name of another person to identify his ownership of a species of livestock other than the species for which the brand is presently recorded.

Propose a change

11-20-106. Brands; sheep; districts created; recording thereof.

To increase the quantity of brands which can be effectively used for the identification of sheep, the executive officer of the board may, with the advice of the executive committee of the Wyoming wool growers association, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations necessary to divide the land area of Wyoming into districts. The districts shall be made a part of such brands and recorded in the state record as further identification of sheep.

Propose a change

11-20-107. Brands; records kept by board; inspection thereof.

The board shall keep an accurate record of all certified livestock brands, the names of the owners and their current contact information including addresses, which shall be open to public inspection.

Propose a change

11-20-108. Recorded brand; certified copy deemed prima facie evidence of ownership.

A certified copy of any brand recorded in the office of the board is prima facie evidence of ownership of animals branded therewith for that species of livestock recorded by the board. The brand shall be received as evidence of ownership in all legal proceedings involving title to the animal.

Propose a change

11-20-109. Recorded brand; considered as property; subject

to sale; written instrument required; acknowledgment and recording. Any brand recorded as required by law is the property of the person in whose name it is recorded, and is subject to sale, assignment, transfer, devise and descent as personal property. Instruments of writing evidencing sale, assignment or transfer shall be acknowledged and recorded in the office of the board. Acknowledgment and recording of such instruments have the same effect as to third parties as the acknowledgment and recording of instruments affecting real estate.

Propose a change

11-20-110. Recorded brand; bill of sale; when title vests.

Any recorded brand may be conveyed to another by a bill of sale executed by the vendor, properly acknowledged, but the conveyance is not complete nor does title to the brand vest in the vendee until the bill of sale is filed for record and the ownership of the brand is transferred in the office of the board.

Propose a change

11-20-111. State brand book; contents.

The executive officer of the board shall procure a suitable book, to be known as the state brand book, in which shall be recorded the brand and the definite place of the brand upon the animal, used for the branding of livestock in this state. A suitable book under this section may, at the discretion of the board, include a printed copy, an electronic copy or both.

Propose a change

11-20-112. Brand book; publication; form and contents;

distribution of copies; monthly lists and biennial supplements; costs; disposition of proceeds. The board shall publish a brand book containing facsimiles or descriptions of all brands recorded in Wyoming together with the owner's name and address. The names and brands shall be arranged in the most convenient form for reference. Copies of the brand book and copies of subsequent supplements shall be given to the agency. At the end of each month, the board shall prepare lists of the brands recorded during that month and shall issue biennial supplements to the brand book which shall supersede and cumulate the monthly lists issued during the biennium. The board may publish and sell brand books, lists and supplements. The proceeds from the sales shall be deposited in the account created by W.S. 11-20-405.

Propose a change

← Find another law