For 26 year , Paul Johnson has yet to see a routine Clarence Shepard Day Jr. . As a steel inspector for theMontana Department of Livestock , Johnson istheperson who producers , heavy and minuscule , depend on for multiple issues . On any given shift , he might screen cows and check that every animal is inspected at a sale , or hemight just as well be call to wranglegoatsin a suburban neighborhood .
Brands are embedded within the history of the West . Brand inspector were among the first jurisprudence enforcement side create in 1885 — four year before Montana gained statehood — to get a hold on cows rustle . Modern examiner carry on this tradition of ensuring brands on the cattle at sales match fit out selling them , but their scope has greatly increase with more masses owning small spread or hobby farm .
Johnson ’s territory includes more than 6,000 squaremiles . For him , a typical Monday might start at 6:30a.m . with a trip to inspect cattle 100 miles off . En route , he might have several stop for small brute checks , and while he arrives on time to his chief fitting , it ’s not unusual for the motortruck hauling the cattle to be late because of mud or snow . After working those Bos taurus , he checks on ill-fed horses on his way back to Ithiel Town , then he receives a call to brawl at - declamatory goats in a residential area . At 10:30 p.m. , he heads back out to attack up some kine on the easy , and after contract care of that situation , he receives another call of a cow hit on the route . He can eventually call it a day at 2 a.m.
A crowing part of what he does involves education and diplomacy , whether it ’s inform those new to the farming realm about the practice of law of owning and sell stock , or keeping neighbors happy by ensuringgood fenceskeep in the animal .
“ We do a quite a little of fence problems , ” he say .
Although most of Montana is still open range , farm animal owner are creditworthy for the possible roving of their beast . If a cow or horse is dispatch on the road , nobody advance .
Johnson says the worldwide rule if there is a fencing material issue between neighbors — peculiarly when each has animals — is to meet in the midway , rock hands and have each of them pay off the fence to the right field .
The section recently receive a reputation of a wild bull tear through fences in a section . Rather than a copper , though , it was twoScottish Highlandcows owned by a local resident enjoy their newfound exemption .
“ I estimate out who it was , ” Johnson says . “ He had just move here and desire to buy cattle . ”
Educating those who merely do n’t know the law , particularly with such a high identification number of citizenry travel in from other constituent of the country , is a growing part of what inspectors cover . In Montana , cattle and horses bought or sold indigence to be seen by the make examiner , even if there is no brand . In that instance , the brand inspector pull back in specific marking and makes note on the private animal . This discourages theft , and it also lets citizenry know who have the animal .
On a turgid graduated table , such as when ranches ship cattle out of state or to the local stockyard , or when they bring in in cattle from another State Department , inspectors confirm the sword and , in some causa , health credential . At sales , they mark off every cow to check that the brand corresponds with the seller , which is challenging during upshot that see nearly 5,000 head of cattle run through the ring . It ’s a team effort with Johnson and the other inspectors who front at each and every cow .
Despite the farseeing hours and fickle docket , it ’s obvious Johnson loves his job . He and the other brand inspector are proud to continue the custom of being there to assist producers and protect the livestock of Montana .
This story originally appeared in the January / February 2019 publication ofHobby Farmsmagazine .
