Branding is one of the oldest ways to permanently identify livestock. It serves as an excellent safeguard against livestock theft, loss or dispute. In fact, the International Livestock Identification Association considers livestock brands to be as important as return addresses on mail.
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Currently, Missouri maintains a list of approximately 5,000 recorded brands. Those brands are available online through Missouri’s Electronic Brand Book or in printed form from the Department’s Animal Health Division. Copies of Brand Books can be purchased for $15.00.
Legislation passed in 1971 requires the Missouri Department of Agriculture to be responsible for the registering of livestock brands. Brands must be recorded as required by Missouri’s Marks and Brands of Animal Law to prove ownership and to be considered legal evidence in a court of law.
Under the law, individuals can register new brands or they can apply to use brands that have not been used for five years. The state will reject a brand if that particular design already is registered. The brand can be registered for use on the shoulder, rib or hip on either side of the animal. Placement (left or right side) is determined by standing behind the animal. Brands must be three (3) inches or larger in diameter.
In Missouri, it is a felony to brand someone else’s animals or to efface, deface or obliterate any livestock brand. It also is illegal to use any brand for branding horses, cattle, sheep, mules or asses unless the brand has been recorded with the Department of Agriculture. For identification within the herd, livestock can be branded with unregistered Arabic numbers if they are used in conjunction with recorded brands. Brands used for identification within the herd are not considered proof of ownership.
Once brands are recorded with the Department of Agriculture they become the personal property of the owner. Registered brands may be transferred from one individual to another. When transferring a brand, the back of the certificate must be signed and notarized, then sent to the department along with the required transfer fee. A notarized document that proves a brand was sold, assigned or transferred will be accepted in lieu of the brand certificate.
In 1992, changes to the brand law made cryo-branding or freeze-branding legal and gives it the same status as hot-iron branding. Freeze branding shows up well on dark-colored livestock.
The fees for registering a brand are as follows:
- Registration fee: $35
- Maintenance fee: $20
- Copy of Brand Book: $15
- Transfer fee: $10
- Additional copies of brand certificate: $10
For further information, please contact the Division of Animal Health Brands at (573) 751-3377 or e-mail animal.health@mda.mo.gov.
Brand Abbreviations
Search Information
The ledger tool containing the acronyms (brand abbreviations) can be used to search the database, since all the brand designs are named in the database using acronyms. Using acronyms will help give the most accurate search of our brands.
Left Shoulder
Right Shoulder
Left Rib
Right Rib
Left Hip
Right Hip
Normal
Bent
Broken
Connected
Cursive
Dragging
Flying
Forked
Hanging
Inverted
Lazy
Open
Reversed
Running
Tumbling
Walking
Brandbooktees
Nor
Ben
Bro
Con
Cur
Dra
Fy
For
Hg
Iv
Lz
Op
Rev
Run
Tum
Wlk
Acorn
Anchor
Animal
Antler (horns)
Anvil
Arrow
Arrowhead
Bar
Barbwire
Barrel
Bed
Bell
Bell cracked
Bird
Bit
Boat
Bolster
Boot
Boot jack
Bottle
Bow & arrow
Bowl
Bowtie
Box
Box open
Bracket
Bullseye
Butterfly
Cactus
Candle
Cent sign
Check mark
Circle
Cloud
Clover
Coat hanger
Coffeepot
Cotter key
Cross
Crown
Crutch
Cup
Diamond
Diamond Ring
Dice
Dipper
Dollar sign
Dot
Dream Catcher
Eye
Fan
Feather
Fish
Flag
Flower
Fruit
Gun
Gunsite
Hair pin
Hammer
Handle Bars
Hat
Hatchet
Heart
Heartbroken
Hexagon
Hook
Horns
Horse
Horseshoe
Hot air balloon
House
Icepick
Iron
Jolly
Key
Key hole
Keystone
Ladder
Leaf
Lightning Bolt
Lock
Male/Female sign
Map (county)
Map (Missouri)
Milkcan
Milliron
Mitten
Mountain
Moon
Music note
Nail
Ox bow
Ox yolk
Pail
Pi sign
Pick
Pig Pen
Pipe
Pitcher
Pitchfork
Quarter circle
Question mark
Rake
Rafter
River
Rocking chair
Rolling pin
Scissors
Shield
Shinning
Slash
Snake
Spoon
Spur
Star
Stirrup
Sun (sun burst)
Swirl
Sword (knife-dagger)
Tepee
Tools
Torch
Tracks (animals)
Tree
Triangle
Weapon
Wheel
Wine glass
Wish bone
Yin & Yang
Miscellaneous
Ac
Anc
An
Ant
Anv
Arr
Arrhea
Br
Brwr
Bar
Bed
Be
BeCra
Bir
Bit
Boa
Bol
Bt
BtJac
Bot
BowArr
Bow
Btie
Bx
BxOp
Bra
BulEy
ButFy
Cac
Can
CtSg
CkM
Cir
Clou
Clo
CtHg
Cof
CotK
Css
Cw
Cru
Cup
Dia
DiaRg
Dice
Dip
Dsg
Dot
DreCat
Eye
Fan
Fe
Fi
Fla
Fw
Fru
Gun
GunSt
HaiPin
Ham
HanBr
Hat
Hatch
Hrt
HrtBro
Hex
Hk
Ho
Hor
HorSh
HtArBal
Hou
IcePic
Ir
Jol
Key
KeyHo
KeySt
Ld
Le
LtB
Lk
MlFemSg
MapCo
MapMo
MilCn
Mil
Mit
Mtn
Mn
MusNt
Nai
OxBw
OxYk
Pai
PiSg
Pic
Pp
Pip
Pit
Pf
QC
Qm
Rk
Rf
Riv
RkCh
Rp
Sc
Sh
Shin
Sl
Sna
Spo
Spu
St
Sti
Sun
Swr
Swo
Tep
Tol
Tor
Tra
Tre
Tri
Wea
Whe
WnGla
WsBn
YinYan
Mis
Brand Choice Tips
Brands that have sharp points on the lettering or sharp angles tend to create burn-out and may appear blotchy and hard to read.
Freeze branding works best and is more visible on darker animals because the hair grows back in a light shade.
Welcome to the Missouri Brand Book.
You can now search for livestock brands used in Missouri by completing a few steps below. Remember - The more information you can provide the search, the faster you will get your results.
For further information, please contact the Division of Animal Health Brands at (573) 751-3377 or e-mail animal.health@mda.mo.gov.
Brandbook Design
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- Brand Application›
- Rodeo Stock Transportation›
Brand Book Online
If you believe your livestock has been stolen, contact the local Sheriff immediately. Please click the 'Inspections' tab, and then select 'Missing Livestock' for a listing of the Sheriffs.
Brandbook Frankfurt
If you did not renew your brand by May 1, 2020, please contact the Brand Office for a Rerecord Brand Application form.
Any brands, not renewed, will not be available as abandoned brands until May 2022. The Brand Board is required to hold brands, not renewed during the renewal period, for a two year re-record period.
Shipper Permits may be obtained 48 hours in advance of shipment by contacting the SD Brand Board at 1 877 574 0054, an authorized agent, or brand inspector. Please select the Inspections Tab for a listing of Shipper Agents.
South Dakota Brand Laws apply STATEWIDE.
It is a Class 1 Misdemeanor to hot iron brand livestock unless the brand is registered with the SD Brand Board.