Brands Enforcement Division: Jay Bodner, Division Administrator
56030-06 BRANDS ENFORCEMENT DIVISION2025 Base Budget2026 Adjustments2026 Total2027 Adjustments2027 Total2027 Biennium
61000 Personal Services4,297,245(64,895)4,232,350(52,702)4,244,5438,476,893
62000 Operating Expenses795,90815,940811,84816,278812,1861,624,034
Total Expenditures5,093,153(48,955)5,044,198(36,424)5,056,72910,100,927
02 STATE/OTHER SPECIAL REV. FUNDS5,093,153(48,955)5,044,198(36,424)5,056,72910,100,927
0 FULL TIME EQUIVALENT54.61-54.61-54.61
The Goal of the Brands Enforcement Division is to provide the livestock industry with professional law enforcement and investigative work in the tracking of livestock ownership and in the deterrence and/or resolution of related criminal activities.
Division Objectives:
Maintain POST certified law enforcement officers with full arrest authority.
Work cooperatively with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies - FBI, BIA, U.S. Forest Service, P & S Administration, U.S. Attorney, Department of Justice criminal investigators, the Montana attorney general, county attorneys, sheriff departments, and other state livestock regulatory agencies and personnel.
Inspect the brands of all livestock crossing county and state lines and/or changing ownership. This includes all livestock coming into and going out of the 12 Montana livestock markets.
Collect the Beef Promotion and Marketing Act as mandated. This is a $1.00 per head beef check-off fee for the Montana Beef Council on all change of ownership cattle inspections.
Record all livestock brands and transfers.
Maintain the livestock lien program.
License the 12 livestock auctions and all livestock dealers; regulate livestock markets on all matters affecting the relationship between the livestock market and owners of livestock, and between the livestock market and the purchasers of livestock. Monitor the financial condition of the livestock markets; livestock dealers; and where the department is trustee the trust fund agreements, certificates of deposit, and letters of credit.
Respond to all inquiries and complaints from the public, private producers, and governmental officials on all aspects of the Brand Enforcement Division.
Coordinate and cooperate with the Stockgrowers; Woolgrowers; Farm Bureau; Montana Cattleman Association; Livestock Market's Associations; local and state law enforcement groups such as the Montana Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee; Montana Law Enforcement Academy; and other groups including the state-wide Emergency and Disaster Control, Montana County Attorneys Association, International Livestock Identification and Theft Investigators Association, and Western States Livestock Investigators Association.