MARKS AND BRANDS OF LIVESTOCK

KRS tit. XXI, ch. 253

in effect

KRS 253.010 Definitions for chapter

253.010. Definitions for chapter As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Board" means the State Board of Agriculture; (2) "Brand" means a permanent identification mark of which the letters, numbers and figures used are each three (3) inches or more in length or diameter and are humanly burned into the hide of a live animal with a hot iron or tattoo or caustic chemical substance and is to be considered in relation to its location on the animal and the term relates to both the mark and location; (3) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Agriculture; (4) "Livestock" means cattle, sheep, swine, goats, horses, alpacas, llamas, buffaloes, or any other animals of the bovine, ovine, porcine, caprine, equine, or camelid species; and (5) "Mark" means a permanent cut identification from the ear of a live animal. Effective:June 29, 2017 History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 129, sec. 18, effective June 29, 2017. -- Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 1.

KRS 253.020 Approval of brands -- Conflicts -- Report

253.020. Approval of brands -- Conflicts -- Report The board shall approve brands for registration and issue certificates of approval, and shall serve as an adjudicating committee in the matter of deciding and determining conflicts of brands and its decision shall be final. It shall publish a state report containing a facsimile of each and every brand and mark that is registered with the board, showing the owner's name and address, together with pertinent laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the registration and reregistration of brands. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 3.

KRS 253.030 Records of brands -- Kept and furnished

253.030. Records of brands -- Kept and furnished The board is the legal custodian of any county record that may have been maintained under prior programs and shall upon request furnish a certified copy of the record of any brand appearing in the county brand record books and shall charge a fee of one dollar ($1) for each such brand. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 4.

KRS 253.040 Registration of brand -- Application -- Fee

253.040. Registration of brand -- Application -- Fee Any application for the registration of a mark or brand with the board shall be on a form prescribed by the board and shall be accompanied by a fee of ten dollars ($10) for each mark or brand to be registered. Any such application for a brand shall show the brand location to the following body regions of animals: neck, shoulder, rib and hip. When a requested brand has been filed previously, the Commissioner and the applicant shall agree on a second choice of brand and body location. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 5.

KRS 253.050 Report of registered brands -- Registration -- Fee -- Records

253.050. Report of registered brands -- Registration -- Fee -- Records The board shall publish at such times as it deems necessary a report of the brands that have been registered. Every five (5) years thereafter all brands shall be reregistered. The Commissioner shall notify each brand owner and provide the necessary forms. A reregistration fee of five dollars ($5) for each brand shall be charged for the ensuing five (5) year period or fraction thereof. The county clerk and the sheriff of each county, or authority approved by the board shall receive all brand reports without cost and the books shall remain as a part of the permanent records of their respective offices. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 6.

KRS 253.060 State report evidence of ownership

253.060. State report evidence of ownership Brands appearing in the current edition of the state report, or supplements thereto, shall be prima facie evidence of ownership and take precedence over brands of like and kind should the question of ownership arise. An owner whose brand does not appear in the state report, or a supplement thereto, shall produce evidence to establish his title to the property in the event of controversy. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 7.

KRS 253.070 Funds from livestock of doubtful ownership held -- Forfeiture

253.070. Funds from livestock of doubtful ownership held -- Forfeiture Any peace officer of the state may order funds derived from the sale of livestock of questionable ownership held until ownership is established. If ownership is not established within thirty (30) days, the person holding the funds shall remit them to the board, which shall hold the funds for one (1) year. If the title to the livestock in question is not ascertained, then the funds shall be deposited in and become a part of the State Department of Agriculture trust fund. Effective:June 29, 2017 History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 129, sec. 19, effective June 29, 2017. -- Amended 1966 Ky. Acts ch. 255, sec. 222. -- Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 8.

KRS 253.080 Brands reserved to state

253.080. Brands reserved to state There is hereby reserved to the State of Kentucky the brands of "B" and "T" on the jaw of cattle, and "V" and "AV" on the body, and it shall be unlawful for any person other than authorized agents of the State Board of Agriculture to use any of these brands. Cattle carrying the "B" on the jaw shall be recognized as reactors to brucellosis abortus (Bangs disease). Cattle carrying the brand "T" on the jaw shall be recognized as reactors to bovine tuberculosis. Cattle carrying the brand "V" or "AV" on the body are officially calfhood vaccinated. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 9.

KRS 253.090 Transfer or sale of registered brands -- Fee

253.090. Transfer or sale of registered brands -- Fee Only brands appearing in the current edition of the state report, or a supplement thereto, shall be subject to sale, assignment, transfer, devise or bequest. The transfer of title must be recorded with the Commissioner. The fee for recording the transfer of title is one dollar ($1). History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 10.

KRS 253.100 Transfer of branded animals in writing

253.100. Transfer of branded animals in writing All persons selling livestock branded with their brand, or brand and mark, recorded in a current state report or a supplement thereto, shall, upon request of a purchaser of such livestock, execute a written transfer of ownership to the purchaser. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 11.

KRS 253.110 Duties of Commissioner -- Administrative regulations

253.110. Duties of Commissioner -- Administrative regulations Except as otherwise provided in this chapter and except as may be directed by the board, the powers, duties, and functions vested by this chapter in the board shall be exercised and performed by the Commissioner. The board may promulgate administrative regulations and hold administrative hearings, in accordance with KRS Chapter 13B, as required to carry out the provisions and intent of this chapter. Effective: July 15, 1996 History: Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 318, sec. 181, effective July 15, 1996. -- Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 2.

KRS 253.120 Fees -- How deposited

253.120. Fees -- How deposited All fees charged and collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in the State Department of Agriculture trust fund. History: Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 12.

KRS 253.130 Unauthorized use of registered brand -- Misdemeanor

253.130. Unauthorized use of registered brand -- Misdemeanor Any person who knowingly places upon any livestock a mark or brand which has not been registered with the board shall, if such mark or brand duplicates one that is registered with the board, be guilty of a misdemeanor. Such duplication shall be the use of a similar brand, used in any position on the livestock designated for the use of a registered brand, such as the neck, shoulder, rib or hip. Effective:June 29, 2017 History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 129, sec. 20, effective June 29, 2017. -- Created 1964 Ky. Acts ch. 167, sec. 13.

KRS 253.990 Penalty

253.990. Penalty Any person who knowingly alters or defaces the marks or brands on any livestock not his own, without the consent of the owner, shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200), or imprisoned for not more than six (6) months, or both. Effective:June 29, 2017 History: Amended 2017 Ky. Acts ch. 129, sec. 21, effective June 29, 2017. -- Created 1980 Ky. Acts ch. 49, sec. 9, effective July 15, 1980.

Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/chapter.aspx?id=38466Fetched: 10/20/2026