An Act to Provide for the Promotion of the Livestock Industry Through the Establishment, Equipment, Maintenance, and Operation of Breeding Stations and Stock Farms for Livestock and Providing Funds Therefor, and Through Compulsory Castration of Undesirable Livestock and Prescribing Penalties for Violation of its Provisions

June 8, 1939

COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 450

AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT, EQUIPMENT, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF BREEDING STATIONS AND STOCK FARMS FOR LIVESTOCK AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND THROUGH COMPULSORY CASTRATION OF UNDESIRABLE LIVESTOCK AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION OF ITS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. For the purpose of promoting the livestock industry of the Philippines, the Director of Animal Industry, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, is authorized to equip, maintain, and operate breeding stations and stock farms for livestock in such places as may be deemed appropriate therefor and beneficial to the industry and to carry on compulsory castration of undesirable livestock unfit for breeding purposes. ACTIHa

For this purpose the sum of five hundred thousand pesos is appropriated, to be disbursed by the Director of Animal Industry subject to the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, for the purchase of breeding animals; for the acquisition of the necessary land including its survey; for the construction, maintenance, repair, or rental of buildings, sheds, stables, corrals, fences and other necessary structures; for the payment of salaries, wages, and travelling expenses of the necessary personnel; for the purchase of needed furniture and equipment, supplies, and materials; and for such other expenses as may be deemed necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 2. The Director of Animal Industry or any of his authorized representative, who shall be a qualified veterinarian, is authorized to serve written notice served upon the owner that any livestock is unfit for breeding purposes and when so declared, it shall be the duty of the owner thereof to castrate or cause to be castrated such animal within the period fixed in the notice, and it shall be unlawful for the owner to use or allow the use of said animal for breeding: Provided, That if the animal dies as a result of the castration, the Government shall pay its market value out of the funds appropriated in this Act.

If the owner fails to castrate any livestock unfit for breeding purposes, the same shall be castrated by the Government subject to the responsibility prescribed in this section.

The owner of the animal affected may within fifteen days after receipt of the notice, appeal the decision of the veterinarian to the Secretary of Agriculture and Commerce, whose decision shall be final.

SECTION 3. Any person who shall knowingly use or allow the use for breeding of any animal declared to be unfit for breeding under this Act or who shall willfully refuse to castrate said animal within the period fixed in the notice of the Director of Animal Industry or his authorized representative or allow the same to be castrated by the Government as provided in section two hereof shall, upon conviction, be punished for each animal used for breeding or not castrated by a fine of not less than five pesos nor more than one hundred pesos, or by imprisonment of not less than five days nor more than thirty days, or by both.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved, June 8, 1939.