Section 77-9-33 - Inspection of exported livestock; report; inspection of slaughterhouses; penalty.

77-9-33. Inspection of exported livestock; report; inspection of slaughterhouses; penalty.

Every inspector shall be an inspector of brands and ear marks and also an inspector of hides and slaughterhouses, and it is the duty of the inspectors to inspect the brands and ear marks of all livestock transported or driven from a district or out of this state and to make a sworn report to the director of the result of such inspection at least once every thirty days and more often if, in the opinion of the board, it is necessary. Every slaughterhouse in this state shall be carefully inspected by the inspectors, and all hides found in slaughterhouses shall be carefully compared with the records of the slaughterhouses and a report in writing setting forth the number of livestock killed at the slaughterhouse since the last inspection, the names of the persons for whom each of the livestock were slaughtered, the brands and marks upon each hide and any information that may be obtained touching the violation by the owner of any slaughterhouse, or any other person, of any of the provisions of Sections 77-17-9 and 77-17-10 NMSA 1978. For the purpose of making an inspection, an inspector has the right to enter in the day or night any slaughterhouse or other place where livestock are killed in this state and to carefully examine the premises and all books and records required by law to be kept on the premises and to compare the hides found with the records. A person who hinders or obstructs or attempts to hinder or obstruct an inspector in the performance of any of the duties required of him by law is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of Section 31-19-1 NMSA 1978 for each offense.