Brand FAQs

Once renewed a brand is valid for 4 years.
Brands are broken out into 2 separate blocks.
Brand numbers 0-124150 will expire 12/31/2025.
Brand numbers 124151-260250 will expire 12/31/2027.

To add or remove any individuals or business entities on a brand title, you will need to perform a brand transfer using a brand transfer form. This form requires signatures of all current brand holders (or if a brand holder is deceased a copy of the Death Certificate or Power of Attorney is also accepted). Because the brand is owned equally by all parties on the title, signatures from all current owners are required. If adding a new party to the brand, the new party’s signature will also be required. All signatures must be signed before a Notary Public and notarized on the brand transfer form. The fee for a standard Brand Transfer is $27.50 and the fee for the Legacy Brand Transfer (the brand has been in continuous use for 25 years without change to the title) is $100.00. The brand holders can also allow the brand to expire and go inactive, then re-register it with the updated information. During the time that the brand is expired/inactive, it cannot be placed onto livestock and no livestock wearing the brand can be sold. The final option is to go through the legal actions for getting a court ruling.

The transfer fee is a flat fee per transfer not per person. If three people are added, it is the same fee as if one person was added.

 The brand book is published the spring after every renewal cycle. The next brand book will be published April-May of 2026.

The mustache or wing shape under your brand design on WSDA forms, in the brand book, and on your wallet ID car is used to represent the ears of cattle from behind and record ear notching or tattooing that brand holders may use.

Send an email to livestockid@agr.wa.gov with the brand number and the information that you would like updated. Livestock Identification staff will make the changes and then send you an updated wallet ID card.

There is no limit to the number of people that can be added, but only 5 or 6 names will appear on the wallet card or in the brand book.

You can add or change iron types at any time. When the new iron is made, send in a imprint of it. For hot irons, please use a burned imprint on cardboard. For freeze irons, use an ink dip or traced outline. Mail the imprint(s) in to PO Box 42591 Olympia, WA 98504 addressed to the LID Program. Include a note/letter with your name, brand number, and the requested change.

There will be minor discrepancies between a design drawn on our tablets for the online images and the physical iron. Brand makers will also place small breaks in the brand face to prevent the metal from overheating and blotching the design. As long as they are still the same overall design, then there will be no confusion on if the brand belongs to you. If you have questions, or would like some edits made, please email or call us.

Hot irons have more strict size requirements than freeze irons. Each character in a hot iron must be at least 3” tall and separated by at least 1”. For freeze irons, each character should be at least 2 ½” inches tall, and the characters can be touching. Smaller irons are permitted for calf or foal irons.

Smaller brand designs must be pre-approved.
Please contact the Brand Recorder at 360-902-1956

A professional brand maker can help you build the brand iron so that it does not blotch. If the design itself is too complicated and continues to blotch, please call or email the Brand Recorder at livestockid@agr.wa.gov or (360) 902-1855 to discuss changing the design.

Please call or email livestockid@agr.wa.gov or (360) 902-1855 to request a renewal form.

A brand that has been continuously registered for at least 25 years

Chapter 16.57 RCW: IDENTIFICATION OF LIVESTOCK
 

16.57.010	Definitions.
16.57.015	Livestock identification advisory committee—Rule review—Fee setting.
16.57.020	Livestock brands—Director is the recorder—Recording fee.
16.57.023	Permanent renewal of brands—Heritage brands—Fees.
16.57.025	Livestock inspection—Licensed and accredited veterinarians—Field livestock inspectors—Fees—Revocation of certification.
16.57.030	Tattoo brands and marks not recordable.
16.57.040	Production record brands.
16.57.050	Use of unrecorded brand prohibited—Exception.
16.57.060	Brands similar to governmental brands not to be recorded.
16.57.070	Conflicting claims to brand.
16.57.080	Renewal of recorded brands—Schedule—Fee—Failure to pay.
16.57.090	Brand is personal property—Instruments affecting title, recording, effect—Fee—Nonliability of director for agents.
16.57.100	Right to use brand—Brand as evidence of title.
16.57.105	Preemptory right to use brand.
16.57.110	Size and characteristics of brand.
16.57.120	Removal or alteration of brand—Penalty.
16.57.130	Similar brands not to be recorded.
16.57.140	Certified copy of record of brand—Fee.
16.57.150	Brand book—Contents—Costs.
16.57.153	Administration of brands—Rules.
16.57.160	Cattle or horses—Rules—Mandatory inspection points—Self-inspection certificates—Dairy cattle identification tags—Fees.
16.57.165	Agreements with others to perform livestock inspection.
16.57.170	Inspection of livestock, hides, records.
16.57.180	Search warrants.
16.57.200	Duty of owner or agent—Livestock inspection.
16.57.210	Arrest without warrant.
16.57.220	Livestock inspection—Fee schedule—Certificates.
16.57.223	Payment of inspection fee—Due at inspection—Lien—Late fee.
16.57.230	Charges for livestock inspection—Actual inspection required.
16.57.240	Certificates of permit, inspection, self-inspection.
16.57.243	Moving or transporting cattle—Certificate or proof of ownership must accompany—Exceptions.
16.57.245	Authority to stop vehicles carrying cattle or horses.
16.57.260	Removal of cattle or horses from state—Inspection certificate required.
16.57.267	Failure to present animal for inspection.
16.57.270	Unlawful to refuse assistance in establishing identity and ownership of livestock.
16.57.275	Transporting cattle carcass or primal part—Certificate of permit required.
16.57.277	Custom slaughter beef tags—Fee—Rules.
16.57.280	Possession of cattle or horse marked with another's brand—Penalty.
16.57.290	Impounding cattle and horses—No certificate or proof of ownership when offered for sale—Disposition.
16.57.300	Proceeds from sale of impounded cattle and horses—Paid to director.
16.57.310	Notice of sale—Claim on proceeds.
16.57.320	Disposition of proceeds of sale when no proof of ownership—Penalty for accepting proceeds after sale, barter, trade.
16.57.330	Disposition of proceeds of sale—No claim made—No proof of ownership provided.
16.57.340	Reciprocal agreements—When livestock from another state an estray, sale.
16.57.350	Rules—Enforcement of chapter.
16.57.353	Rules—Compliance with federal requirements.
16.57.360	Civil infractions—Time and mileage fee.
16.57.370	Disposition of fees.
16.57.400	Horse and cattle identification—Inspection when consigned for sale.
16.57.405	Microchip in a horse—Removal with intent to defraud—Gross misdemeanor.
16.57.407	Microchip in a horse—Authority to investigate removal.
16.57.410	Horses—Registering agencies—Permit required—Fee—Records—Identification symbol inspections—Rules.
16.57.420	Ratite identification.
16.57.430	Replacement copies of brand inspection documents—Rules—Fees.
16.57.440	Unlawful transport or delivery of cattle or horses.
16.57.450	Electronic cattle transaction reporting system—License—Fee—Report to the legislature—Adoption of rules.
16.57.460	Livestock inspection program report.
16.57.902	Effective dates—2003 c 326.