Parsons, Kansas —
Cattle theft is an ongoing problem that is difficult to stop according to Eldon Cole, a livestock specialist with University of Missouri Extension. One method to deter theft is to brand with a unique, approved brand.
“I’ve heard authorities state that it’s a deterrent but that Missouri does not have a brand law. That is not accurate,” said Cole.
The state of Missouri adopted the current brand law in 1971. The most recent brand book, published by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division came out in 2010 and contained 4,687 registered brands.
Key parts of the brand law include:
•No evidence of ownership by brand on cattle, sheep, horses or mules shall be permitted in any court in this state unless the brand is recorded.
•The recording must be done through the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Health Division. The recording fee is $35 and is good for five years. A $20 maintenance fee is due each five years.
•The brand may be by hot iron or freeze brand. It must contain two characters at least. The brand must be three inches or larger in diameter.
•Brands can be placed in six locations on the animal. They are the shoulder, rib or hip on each side of the animal.
•Within-herd identification brands must be at least 10 inches from the ownership brand.
•A bill of sale noting brands should be obtained when a branded animal is purchased.
•The Missouri brand book is sent to each county recorder of deeds, every livestock market and slaughter house in the state. Law enforcement officials may request them and many University of Missouri Extension Centers have access to them.
•The brand application may be obtained online at mda.mo.gov or by contacting the department by phone at 573-751-5608. Extension livestock specialists also have them.
•No provisions for brand inspectors are provided in the 1971 Bill.
Although branding is not practiced by a high percentage of Missouri livestock owners it can be a deterrent to theft for those who take the time to place a registered brand on their stock.
“Most thieves avoid stealing branded animals as they are more likely to be noticed by knowledgeable workers at livestock markets,” said Cole.
The 1971 law does include statements that slaughtering plants and livestock markets shall keep a record of branded animals for at least two years. No liability will be imposed. The facsimiles of brands shall only be used as a record of identification.
“Branding cattle may be viewed as a problem by some but at this time no market discounts are made due to hide damage. In fact, the brand could even enhance the cattle’s value due to favorable performance in the feedlot, on-the-rail or in the breeding pasture,” said Cole. “Brands can help develop a reputation and easily identifiable mark on a herd of beef cattle.”
For more information, contact any of the MU Extension livestock specialists in southwest Missouri: Eldon Cole in Mt. Vernon, (417) 466-3102, Andy McCorkill in Dallas County at (417) 345-7551 or Dona Goede in Cedar County, (417) 276-3313.£
Area Farm & Ranch News
Related Photos
Unique brand is a good theft deterrent
- Area Farm & Ranch News
-
-
4-H members in SW Mo., fight hunger with program
Statewide, 4-H members are seeking donations from Missouri farmers for the Invest an Acre program as part of a 4-H Revolution of Responsibility campaign to find solutions to hunger through community service.
- April showers bring even more May flowers
-
Anaplasmosis prevention in beef herds
Anaplasmosis can be a costly disease to beef cattle producers. Anaplasmosis is caused by a blood-borne organism that destroys red blood cells and causes severe anemia, weakness, fever, lack of appetite, depression, lower milk production, jaundice, abortion and sometimes death.
-
Cattle management following drought
Cattle eat more when it gets cold. Local ranchers saw that with the recent large snows and are still seeing it with one of the coldest springs in recent memory. Dr. Justin Sexten, a PH.D University of Missouri State Extension Specialist,went over ideas for area cattlemen to use as their herds exit the late 2013 winter at the Andrew and Buchanan County’s Forage Management meeting in St. Joseph.
-
Spring crops field day set for May 22 in SE Kansas
Wheat and corn production will take center stage at the Kansas State University Southeast Agricultural Research Center’s Spring Crops Field Day, Wednesday, May 22 near Parsons.
-
Improving drought damaged forage
Ranchers commonly ask what they can plant in the middle of a drought to give them plenty of forage. This was the first question for University of Missouri Plant Sciences Extension Specialist Robert Kallenbach on March 6 in St. Joseph.
-
Wet spring is good news for forage
Ask Robert Seay, Benton County staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, what a wet spring means for agriculture in the state and he'll turn to one of the newspaper clippings he keeps taped to his file cabinet.
-
Aphids and nitrogen loss remain concern to producers
According to Jill Scheidt, agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension in Barton County, most wheat in southwest Missouri has started to joint.
-
R.W. Hampton in Concert April 17
Well known Cowboy and Musician, R.W. Hampton will perform a free concert at Cowboy Capital Fellowship in Lenapah Wednesday April 17 following a free Chuckwagon feed that will begin at 6 p.m.
-
Parsons farmers market moving downtown beginning April 23
The Parsons Farmers Market will have a new home starting Tuesday, April 23. The Market, which has been at the Forest Park location for the past several years, will be moving back to Downtown Parsons at the request of the vendors.
- More Area Farm & Ranch News Headlines
-
4-H members in SW Mo., fight hunger with program
