Cowboy Riding Herd

Brand Registration Information

Bureau of Livestock Identification

Recording a Brand

To record a livestock make, please complete the enclosed application signed in ink by the bidder or applicants and return it to the Department of Food and Agriculture with the $70.00 recording fee.

Section 20662

Section 20662 of the Food and Agricultural code states the proposed brand design must meet the post-obit requirements:

  • It is not in disharmonize with any other recorded brand in this State.
  • It is capable of producing a like design when applied to the hide of an animate being.
  • It is capable of readily symbolizing the intended blueprint to any person who views information technology.
  • Information technology lends itself to common verbal description.

Please indicate on the application the choices of brand design, location on the animal in order of preference, and any earmarks desired. There are six branding positions for legal proof of buying of cattle. They are the left or right shoulder, rib or hip.

To record the brand to a company, partnership, fictitious business etc., a re-create of the legal document showing registration with the Secretary of State'due south office or county part, which names all officers, partners or owners must exist provided.

When the brand is canonical for registration, a Document of Cattle Brand Registration is issued to the applicant along with a drawing that may exist used in the construction of your branding iron. The brand may not exist used until the certificate of registration has been issued.

The $70.00 recording fee entitles the applicant to use the brand until the following April ane. At that time, the brand possessor shall pay the biennial renewal fee of $seventy.00 by April 30 of that twelvemonth. Renewing the brand is the applicant's responsibility.

If the renewal fee is not paid, the brand is placed in suspense and may non be used to brand livestock. If the brand owner wishes to reinstate the suspended brand, an additional penalization fee of $30.00 is required.

At the end of one yr's intermission, the brand is and so canceled. After cancellation, anyone may apply for the registration of the canceled make. If the original possessor(s) wish to re–record the make, a new application and a $140.00 re–recording fee must exist submitted.

Transferring a Brand

  • The purpose of the Transfer of Make form is to change the ownership of a Livestock Brand. Brand ownership changes can consist of the addition or deletion of a name, or the change of make ownership to or from a corporation, partnership, fictitious business or a trust.
  • Transfer of Brand forms are only bachelor upon request from the Bureau of Livestock Identification part. When requesting a Transfer of Make grade, please notify the Brand Registration office if any changes in address have occurred.
  • A completed transfer class and a $lxx.00 transfer fee must be submitted when a alter in brand ownership occurs.
  • The transfer form, signed by all current owner(s) and all new possessor(southward), must be submitted. If signed by a legally appointed representative such as an executor, ability of attorney, trustee(s), partners or officer(s) of a corporation, a copy of the document indicating this authority must exist provided.
  • All signatures must exist notarized.
  • The new owners of the brand may not use the brand until the Brand Certificate citing the transfer has been received.
  • Transfer of Make forms cannot exist candy unless the renewal status of the brand is current.

Important Notation:

Change of make ownership does not constitute change in ownership of cattle bearing that brand. The change of ownership of cattle requires a Make Inspection and Bill of Sale or Consignment (Yellow Slip) or written musical instrument from the possessor or his/her agent with articulate definition of number, kind, brood, sex and, if branded, brand and location on each animal. Please refer to California Food & Agriculture Codes 21051 and 21702.

Transfer forms are available upon request from the Agency of Livestock Identification office. Please notify the Brand Registration function if any changes in address have occurred.

Agency of Livestock Identification
Department of Nutrient and Agriculture
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Phone: (916) 900-5006
Fax: (916) 900-5335

Renewing a Brand - Agricultural Code Sections

Section 20754. The owner of a make shall, on or before April 30th after its recordation, pay to the agency a biennial menstruation renewal fee of Seventy Dollars ($lxx) for the correct to continue to use the brand.

Section 20722. If the renewal fee is not paid past April 30th following the recordation of the make, or by Apr 30th of the year that follows the last year for which the renewal fee has been paid, the right to use the brand is suspended equally of April 1st of that twelvemonth.

Section 20756. If the correct to use a brand is suspended for failure to pay the renewal fee, information technology may be reinstated within one year from the date of intermission upon the payment of the biennial renewal fee of Seventy Dollars ($70) plus a 30 Dollar ($30) penalty fee.

Section 20723. If the correct to employ a make is suspended for more one year, it becomes forfeited on April 1st following the year of suspension. The make may, thereafter, be rerecorded by the former possessor or it may be applied for past any other person pursuant to this chapter.

Section 20222. Any person who uses an unrecorded, forfeited, or canceled make shall pay a punishment upon a start violation of 1 hundred dollars ($100); upon a second violation within the same 12–month catamenia, a penalisation of 2 hundred dollars ($200); and upon a third or subsequent violation within the aforementioned 12–month period, a penalty of 5 hundred dollars ($500), which is in addition to any other penalization provided past law.

Section 20757. (a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the fee for rerecording a forfeited or canceled brand shall be 1 Hundred Forty Dollars ($140). This amount shall accompany the application to rerecord. (b) When a penalisation has been paid pursuant to Section 20222, within 30 days of the date the application to rerecord is received by the director, the fee to rerecord shall exist Seventy Dollars ($70).

Brands: Bovine

"Brand" means a blueprint that is permanently impressed on the hide of an fauna past burning with acid, a chemical chemical compound, or a hot iron. Freeze brands cannot exist used on cattle to indicate ownership.

Brands: Horses, Mules, Burros, Sheep & Swine

Whatsoever person that owns a registered cattle brand may use the same make on the same location on horses, mules, burros, sheep or swine.

A super cold fe (freeze brand) as defined in Section 23251.1 may exist used on horses, mules, burros and sheep.


Contact Information

California Department of Nutrient and Agriculture
Animate being Wellness and Food Safety Services, Agency of Livestock Identification
1220 N Street
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: 916-900-5006
Fax: 916-900-5335
Or send an email to the bureau: bliinfo@cdfa.ca.gov

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