Gage County has applied to the state of Nebraska for designation as a livestock friendly county.

The county Board of Supervisors approved the application on Wednesday.

To receive the label, Nebraska counties must hold public hearings, declare the importance of livestock to the counties' well-being, submit narratives that describe how they meet the intent of the Livestock Friendly County program, and provide copies of regulations governing the site-selection criteria for livestock operations.

Gov. Dave Heineman has said the designation is a sign a county is ready to pursue new opportunities in agribusiness.

Fourteen of Nebraska's 93 counties have been given the designation.