AGRICULTURE CODE
TITLE 6. PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AND SALE OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS
SUBTITLE B. LIVESTOCK
CHAPTER 144. MARKS AND BRANDS
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 144.001. OWNER'S MARKS AND BRANDS. (a) Each person who has cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats shall have and may use one or more earmarks, brands, tattoos, or electronic devices differing from the earmarks, brands, tattoos, and electronic devices of the person's neighbors.
(b) A person who owns a horse may have and use one or more of the following to identify the horse:
(1) a brand differing from the brand of the person's neighbors, including a fire or electric heat brand, freeze brand, acid brand, or hoof brand;
(2) an earmark differing from the earmark of the person's neighbors;
(3) a tattoo differing from the tattoo of the person's neighbors;
(4) an electronic device; or
(5) another generally accepted identification method.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1353, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 780, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 368, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 144.002. BRANDS OF MINORS. A minor who owns cattle, hogs, or one or more horses may have one or more marks or brands, but the parent or guardian of the minor is responsible for the proper use of the mark or brand.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1353, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 780, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.
Sec. 144.003. AGE FOR MARKING OR BRANDING. (a) Cattle shall be marked with the earmark or branded with the brand of the owner on or before the date they are one year old.
(b) Hogs, sheep, and goats shall be marked with the earmark of the owner on or before the date they are six months old.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1353, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
SUBCHAPTER C. RECORDING OF MARKS AND BRANDS
Sec. 144.041. MARKS AND BRANDS TO BE RECORDED. (a) Each person who owns cattle, hogs, sheep, or goats shall record that person's earmarks, brands, tattoos, and electronic devices with the county clerk of the county in which the animals are located.
(b) A person who owns a horse shall record an identification mark authorized by Section 144.001(b) with the county clerk of the county in which the animal is located.
(c) The county clerk shall keep a record of the marks and brands of each person who applies to the clerk for that purpose.
(d) A person may record that person's marks and brands in as many counties as necessary.
(e) A person may record any mark or brand that the person desires to use if no other person has recorded the mark or brand, without regard to whether that person has previously recorded a mark or brand.
(f) Not later than the 30th day after the date a county clerk receives a record relating to cattle or horses under this section, the clerk shall forward a copy of the record to the association authorized to inspect livestock under 7 U.S.C. Section 217a.
(g) The recording of marks and brands at a point of sale for use by an association authorized to inspect livestock under 7 U.S.C. Section 217a does not serve as a record under this chapter. An association authorized to inspect livestock under 7 U.S.C. Section 217a has no duty to verify ownership at a point of sale.
(h) A county clerk may accept electronic filing or rerecording of an earmark, brand, tattoo, electronic device, or other type of mark for which a recording is required under this chapter or other law.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1358, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 780, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 368, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 506 (S.B. 1016), Sec. 9.21, eff. September 1, 2009.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 304 (H.B. 2108), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1341 (S.B. 1233), Sec. 1, eff. June 17, 2011.
Sec. 144.042. RECORDING. In recording a mark, electronic device, tattoo, or brand, the county clerk shall note the date on which the mark, electronic device, tattoo, or brand is recorded. In addition, the person recording a mark, electronic device, tattoo, or brand shall designate the part of the animal on which the mark, electronic device, tattoo, or brand is to be placed and the clerk shall include that in the records.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1359, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 368, Sec. 3, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 144.043. EFFECT OF RECORDING. (a) Any dispute about an earmark or brand shall be decided by reference to the mark and brand records of the county clerk, and the mark or brand of the oldest date prevails.
(b) A recorded mark or brand is the property of the person causing the record to be made and is subject to sale, assignment, transfer, devise, and descent the same as other personal property.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1359, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Sec. 144.044. RERECORDING. (a) Not later than six months after August 30 of 1981 and of every 10th year thereafter, each person who owns livestock mentioned in this chapter shall have that person's marks and brands recorded with the county clerk, regardless of whether or not the marks or brands have been previously recorded.
(b) The person who, according to the records of the county, first recorded the mark or brand in the county is entitled to have the mark or brand recorded in that person's name. If the records do not show who first recorded the mark or brand in the county, the person who has been using the mark or brand the longest is entitled to have it recorded in that person's name.
(c) After the expiration of six months from each recording under this section, the marks and brands recorded prior to recording under this section have no force and effect and only the records made after each recording under this section may be examined or considered in recording marks and brands in the county.
(d) Not later than the 30th day after the date a county clerk receives a record relating to cattle or horses under this section, the clerk shall forward a copy of the record to the association authorized to inspect livestock under 7 U.S.C. Section 217a.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1359, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 368, Sec. 4, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
SUBCHAPTER F. PENALTIES
Sec. 144.121. USE OF UNRECORDED MARK OR BRAND. (a) A person commits an offense if the person marks or brands any unmarked or unbranded livestock with a mark or brand that is not recorded under this chapter.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed $500.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1362, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Sec. 144.122. ALTERING MARK OR BRAND. (a) A person commits an offense if the person alters or changes a mark or brand on livestock owned or controlled by that person without first having changed the recorded mark or brand.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $500.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1362, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Sec. 144.124. IMPROPERLY RECORDING BRAND. (a) A person commits an offense if, as county clerk, the person records a brand for which the person recording the brand fails to designate the part of the animal on which the brand is to be placed.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1362, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Sec. 144.125. COUNTERBRANDING WITHOUT OWNER'S CONSENT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person violates Section 144.074(c) of this code.
(b) An offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $50 for each animal counterbranded.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1362, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Sec. 144.127. REPRODUCTION OR DESTRUCTION OF TATTOO MARK. (a) A person commits an offense if the person, without the consent of the owner, reproduces, counterfeits, copies, adds to, takes from, imitates, destroys, or removes a registered tattoo mark on livestock or aids in the commission of one of those acts.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not less than 2 years nor more than 12 years.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1362, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 25.001, eff. September 1, 2009.
Sec. 144.128. PURCHASE, SALE, OR TRANSPORTATION OF TATTOOED LIVESTOCK WITHOUT CONSENT. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) without consent of the owner, buys, sells, or barters, for that person or another person, any livestock on which a registered tattoo mark has been placed;
(2) without consent of the owner, transports over the highways of this state any livestock on which a registered tattoo mark has been placed; or
(3) aids in the commission of an act under Subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection.
(b) An offense under this section is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for not less than 2 years nor more than 12 years.
Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1363, ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.
Amended by:
Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 25.002, eff. September 1, 2009.