Legal Definitions - agistor

Agistor

An agistor is an individual or entity that provides pasturage and care for another person's livestock on their own land, typically for a fee. The agistor does not take ownership of the animals but is responsible for their well-being while they are on their property.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of an agistor:

• Example 1: Seasonal Cattle Grazing
  A large cattle rancher, Mr. Henderson, has more pasture than his own herd can utilize during the spring and summer. He enters into an agreement with a smaller cattle farmer, Ms. Davies, to allow her fifty cows to graze on his unused land for a monthly fee. During this period, Mr. Henderson is responsible for monitoring the health of Ms. Davies's cattle and ensuring they have access to water and adequate forage, but he does not own them.

  How this illustrates the term: Mr. Henderson acts as an agistor because he provides his land for Ms. Davies's cattle to graze, cares for them while they are on his property, and receives payment for this service, all without taking ownership of the animals.

• Example 2: Horse Pasture Boarding
  Sarah owns a property with several acres of fenced pasture and a small barn. She offers "pasture board" for horses, where horse owners can pay a monthly fee to have their horses live in her fields. Sarah checks on the horses daily, provides supplemental hay when grass is scarce, and ensures their water troughs are clean and full. The horse owners retain full ownership and responsibility for veterinary care and farrier services.

  How this illustrates the term: Sarah is an agistor because she provides grazing land and basic care for horses owned by others, in exchange for a fee, without acquiring ownership of the horses.

• Example 3: Temporary Animal Housing for Rescue
  A local animal rescue organization, "Happy Hooves," saves a herd of neglected miniature donkeys but lacks sufficient pasture space at their main facility. They arrange with a nearby farm, "Rolling Hills Ranch," to temporarily house and care for the donkeys on Rolling Hills' extensive pastures for a monthly fee per animal. Rolling Hills Ranch provides the grazing land, fresh water, and daily checks on the donkeys' well-being, while Happy Hooves retains ownership and covers veterinary expenses.

  How this illustrates the term: Rolling Hills Ranch acts as an agistor by taking in the donkeys (livestock) from Happy Hooves (the owner), providing them with pasture and care on their land, and receiving payment for this service, all without assuming ownership of the animals.