Livestock Brand Registration

Posted on Aug 14, 2020 in Main

NR20-12
August 14, 2020

Livestock brand Registration Period
September 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020
All Existing Brands Must Re-register

HONOLULU – Owners of livestock brands in Hawai`i have until December 31, 2020 to re-register their brands with the Hawai`i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) or risk losing their rights to their brands. 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 every five years. The registration fee is $10.

During the period 2016 – 2020, there were 726 registered brands in Hawai`i.

“Owners of existing brands may re-register at any time,” said Dr. Jason Moniz, veterinarian and manager of HDOA’s Animal Disease Control Branch. “However, if they do not re-register by December 31st, they may potentially lose the right to their brand should someone else apply for it.”

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. In Hawai`i, there are about 1,100 cattle operations ranging from herds of about 25,000 head of cattle to those with just a few head.

HDOA’s Animal 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.

To view registered brands in the Hawaii Brand Book, go to: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/hawai%ca%bbi-brand-registry/

To obtain a brand registration form, go to: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2012/12/DC29.pdf

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

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