§ 21-1229. Exhibition livestock - Administration of certain substances or performance of certain surgical procedures to alter appearance.

For livestock utilized for exhibition purposes, it shall be unlawful for any person to inject into the livestock or cause the livestock to ingest any drug, chemical or substance that is not labeled for use on animals, or to administer any chemical or substance used on livestock for the specific purpose of altering the appearance of livestock or to alter the muscle or fat content of the animal's carcass or to perform any surgical procedure to alter the appearance of the livestock.  Ordinary and customary veterinarian procedures, including but not limited to dehorning, branding, tagging or notching ears, castrating, deworming, vaccinating or docking the tail of farm animals shall not be prohibited.  Surgery of any kind performed to change the natural contour or appearance of the animal's body or hide, shall be prohibited by this section.  Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be a misdemeanor, upon conviction, punishable by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by imprisonment in the county jail for a term not less than thirty (30) days nor more than one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  A second or subsequent violation of the provisions of this section shall be a felony, upon conviction, punishable by a fine of not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), nor more than Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00), or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for a term not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 195, § 1, emerg. eff. May 16, 1995.  Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 312, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 210, eff. July 1, 1999.

Note

NOTE:  Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 312 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.