Department of Agriculture

HONOLULU– Owners of livestock brands in Hawai`i are required to re-register their brands with the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) between September 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. 
Hawai`i law requires owners of livestock in the state to register their brand to secure its validity and individuality. While it is not mandatory to use brands in Hawai`i, it is mandatory for owners using brands to register them. 

Typically, cattle are branded prior to one year of age so owners have a permanent and unique identification on their animals that traces them back to their ownership.  HDOA’s Livestock Disease Control Branch reviews brand applications and approves brands after determining that the brand is not the same or similar to others that are registered.  Branding continues to be the most practical and approved means by which cattle ownership is determined, particularly in the Western U.S. where most states require cattle moving interstate to be brand inspected.

In Hawai`i, there are about 1,100 cattle operations ranging from herds of about 16,000 cows to those with just a few head.  For the period of 2005 through 2010, there were 682 brands registered in Hawai`i.  Brand owners are required to re-register their brands every five years.

For more information and applications, brand owners should contact HDOA’s Livestock Disease Control Branch at (808) 483-7106 (Oahu) or e-mail: [email protected]

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NOTE:  Brand applications were mailed to each registered owner on August 30th, and should be received in the next few days.  If you are a brand owner and have not received the form, to download the application, click here.

To view the Brand Book, click here.