Livestock and pet food companies are inspected to confirm they are registered to sell products in Colorado, and to ensure products are properly labeled. Inspectors submit samples to the Division of Laboratory Services, which tests the feed for compliance with the guarantees listed on the label. Inspections ensure that specific livestock feeds comply with the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE or "Mad Cow Disease") prevention regulations.
What to expect during an inspection:
- The inspector needs ready access to any feed products in inventory and copies of labels to send in with samples.
- The inspector may obtain 1 to 3 packages of feed products in small packages as a sample.
- For feed products other than "small package" products, the inspector may collect samples from ten (10) bags or containers. This sampling procedure may include inserting a test probe into each bag.
- The resulting holes are then patched through a State of Colorado Department of Agriculture Seal.
- These samples are bagged, identified, and sent to the ICS Biochem Laboratory for analysis.
- After completing the inspection, the inspector will compile a report with multiple copies that must be signed.
- Also, a review of product labels and manufacturers' registrations may be conducted.
- If a product is found to be non-registered, the inspector may collect information on the supplier of the feed to the inspected facility.