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Arizona Department of Agriculture - Animal Disease, Ownership and Welfare Protection Program

Report

The report addresses how the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Disease, Ownership and Welfare Protection Program inspects cattle and horses. Current statutory fees for cattle and horse inspections do not allow the Department to recover its costs for conducting these inspections. While a typical cattle or horse inspection costs the Department at least $14 in travel and inspection costs, the Department’s $3 base fee plus $.25 per head of cattle, and $5 per horse inspection fees, fall far short of these costs. Since these fees are specified in statute, the report recommends that the Legislature consider increasing the current horse inspection fee from $5 to $10 and establishing separate travel fees to allow the Department to better recover its costs. Additionally, the Legislature should consider establishing a travel fee not to exceed $15 and grant the Department the authority to set the actual fee in administrative rule based on its costs.

Further, the report recommends that the Legislature and the Department take steps to reduce the costs associated with these inspections, and alter the actual fees to reflect reduced costs. For example, the Legislature should consider amending statute to allow the Department to eliminate many of the pre-transit inspections it conducts, which are duplicative and unnecessary. Additionally, the Department should conduct inspections at central locations and encourage cattle and horse owners to bring their animals to these locations, and increase the number of part-time or seasonal inspectors stationed in rural areas. These steps should reduce the travel carried out by the Department’s inspection staff. To provide incentive for livestock owners to meet inspectors at current inspection locations, the Department should reduce inspection fees.

Follow-Up Report