By Julie Tomascik
Editor
All Texas cattle brands, marks and tattoos are set to expire after Aug. 30 and must be renewed by Feb. 28, 2022.
“Brand owners have a six-month grace period in order to re-register their brands, and that’s beginning Aug. 31 through Feb. 28, 2022,” said Michelle Carlile, assistant director of Law Enforcement, Brand and Inspection Services for the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA). “If they fail to re-register their brand during those six months, then their brand is open for anyone to take.”
All brands are registered through the county clerk’s office.
“They will need to go directly to the county clerk in the county where their livestock reside,” Carlile said. “So, if they have multiple ranches in different counties, then they would need to go to each county clerk’s office.”
Some offices are participating in an online re-registration program. Carlile recommends contacting the county clerk to see if the county is participating.
Brand applications and renewals require a drawing of the brand that notes the location on the animal.
“The location of the brand is just as important as the brand itself,” she said. “You and I can have the same brand in the same county as long as the location is different. So, I can brand on the left hip. You can brand on the right hip. So, the location is part of the brand itself.”
Carlile said the fee varies by county, but the average fee is $26 per brand. Some counties charge an additional $5 if the brand is on multiple locations.
Although Texas does not have a statewide brand registry database, TSCRA keeps a centralized database for the association’s law enforcement purposes.
“A brand is like a return address for the cattle. So, when the cattle are missing, we can find it quickly in our database and find out who that brand or who that cow belongs to,” Carlile said. “It also prevents theft. Our Special Rangers have spoke about when they’ve interviewed suspects and the suspects have actually told us that they will avoid cattle that have brands on them and go for the unbranded livestock. It’s a good deterrent for thieves not to take branded cattle.”
The registration is good for 10 years and will expire Aug. 30, 2031.
Any previously recorded brand, marks and tattoos that have not been re-registered by the Feb. 28 deadline will be considered unclaimed and eligible for registration by another.
In Texas, it’s not mandatory to brand livestock.
“However, if you do brand your livestock, it is mandatory that you register the brand with the county clerk,” Carlile said. “Failure to do so is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $500.”
For more information, visit http://www.tscrabrands.com/register-your-brand.html or call 1-800-242-7820 to speak with the TSCRA Brand and Inspection Department.
How can all expire on August 31? If some were registered less than 10 yrs ago
In accordance with Article 144.044 of the Agriculture Code, the marks and brands that have been previously recorded will expire on August 30, 2021. The owners of the marks and brands will have from August 31, 2021 until February 28, 2022 to renew them. On March 1, 2022, all marks and brands that have not been renewed will have no force or effect and will be available for use on a “first-come” basis.
Not a requirement to brand, but if you do and not register it, it’s a fine? Is this a state or county law?Yet, if you do register. Its only recorded by the county and not compiled or shared state wide except by cattle raiser associations. How or what do the counties do with the registrations besides collect fees?
Did you ever get your questions answered? I have several of the same questions.
We have our brand registered with the county as it has been for 100+ years. However, we do not brand our cattle. How does this affect us?
If you don’t want someone else picking up your brand and registering it as theirs, I would renew.
You must reregister!
tscrabrands.com This supposed website is not informational regarding Brands! Please put a correct website up. Thank you!
Hi! That is the website that TSCRA recommends we share. The menu on the left-hand side of tscrabrands.com has links to FAQs, brand registration forms, a link to find your county clerk, how to search brands, a link to the Texas Agriculture Code regarding brands and marks, and more information.
Seems to me TSCRA has found a convenient way to make more cash for themselves and the county. Just decide to cancel all registered brands and make everyone re-register their brand, even if it’s just a few years old. Sort of like getting $060/lb. at the auction for slaughter cattle when hamburger is averaging over $5.50/lb. Something ain’t right folks.
The fee paid to the county clerk ends up in the state treasury for administrative of the Marks and Brands law. TSCRA does not receive money for registration.
Thanks for reply Ms. Tracy; and for allowing me to “vent.” Y’all do a great job of keeping us informed.
Does this branding rule pertain to equines as well? Other states I travel to have “Brand inspections and require you to have your equines “brand inspected”
Please advise
A friend got a horse from Texas with the brand 3A on his hip. How can we find out information on the brand to find more out about the horse