2006 Indiana Code - CHAPTER 14. LIVESTOCK BRANDS
IC 15-5-14Chapter 14. Livestock Brands
IC 15-5-14-1
Definitions
Sec. 1. As used in this chapter:
"Board" refers to the Indiana state board of animal health
established by IC 15-2.1-3-1.
"Brand" means a distinctive design or mark of identification made
or applied to the hide on livestock by the use of a hot iron or by any
other method or process approved by the board. Such brands shall be
applied to the shoulder, ribs, or hip on either the right or left side as
determined by standing behind the animal. No brand, except those
for livestock disease control purposes, may be applied to the head or
neck area.
"Livestock" means:
(1) all cattle or animals of the bovine species;
(2) all horses, mules, burros, and asses or animals of the equine
species;
(3) all swine or animals of the porcine species; and
(4) all goats or animals of the caprine species.
"Person" includes any individual, firm, association, partnership,
corporation, other legal entity, public or private institution, the state
of Indiana, or municipal corporation or political subdivision of the
state.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.2.
IC 15-5-14-2
Adoption of brands
Sec. 2. A person owning livestock within Indiana may adopt a
brand for his exclusive use in this state. No person may brand or
cause to be branded any livestock with a brand that is of legal record
in the office of the board, unless that brand has been certified by the
board for that person's exclusive use.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.3.
IC 15-5-14-3
Recording of brands
Sec. 3. The board shall record livestock brands. The board shall
carry out the terms and provisions of this chapter and for that
purpose may make rules to implement this chapter.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.4.
IC 15-5-14-4
Application for recording of brand
Sec. 4. (a) An owner of livestock in this state desiring to adopt for
his exclusive use any brand shall, before doing so, forward to the
board an application on a form approved and provided by the board
for that purpose.
(b) For the purpose of this chapter, the post office address
included in the application shall be considered the legal address of
the applicant. Until the board receives from the applicant, in writing,
a notice of change of address, the latest address of record with the
board shall remain the legal address.
(c) If the brand is accepted, the board shall file the brand in the
official brand book, furnish the applicant a brand certificate, and
inform the applicant that he has, from the date of filing, exclusive
right to the use of such brand in Indiana.
(d) Additional brand certificates of a recorded brand may be
obtained from the board upon the payment of a fee to be established
by the board under section 14 of this chapter.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.5.
IC 15-5-14-5
One brand for each owner; separate livestock operations; identical
or similar brands; restrictions on use of brands
Sec. 5. (a) Only one (1) brand may be awarded or recorded for
each owner of livestock, but the owner or owners of separate and
distinct livestock operations may, at the discretion of the board,
record one (1) brand for use at each such distinct and separate
livestock operation.
(b) No brand may be recorded or used which:
(1) is identical with or, in the opinion of the board, is so similar
to any brand previously recorded and remaining of legal record;
or
(2) if an abandoned brand, has not been abandoned for five (5)
years;
so as to be liable to cause confusion as to the identity or ownership
of livestock.
(c) If the board determines that the submitted brand is already on
record for another person or that it so closely resembles a previously
registered brand that the brands cannot be readily distinguished, the
board shall notify the applicant and shall return the facsimile brand
and recording fee. In case of duplications, applications bearing the
earliest postmark will be accepted.
(d) The board shall adjust conflicting stock brands and make
changes as may be necessary. Changes made by the board are
conclusive, and brands the board indicates may be recalled or
adjusted at any time by means of written notice from the board given
to the owner of the brand.
(e) No brand may be recorded in the state elsewhere than in the
office of the board.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.6.
IC 15-5-14-6
Evidentiary effect of certificates of recordation
Sec. 6. All certificates of recordation or rerecordation of brands
furnished by the board are prima facie evidence of the ownership of
all livestock of the kind or kinds bearing the brand or brands
specified and as set forth in the record, and the certificates are
evidence of ownership in all law suits or in any criminal proceedings,
when the title to livestock in this state is to be proved. Upon request,
disputes in ownership or custody of branded livestock shall be
investigated by state or county law enforcement officials.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.7.
IC 15-5-14-7
Ownership of brands
Sec. 7. A recorded brand is the personal property of the person in
whose name it is filed and is subject to sale, assignment, transfer,
devise, and descent as personal property. Instruments of writing
evidencing the sale, assignment, or transfer of a brand shall be
forwarded to the board to be recorded in the official brand book. The
fee for such a transaction shall be determined by the board. As soon
as the transaction has been recorded, the board shall furnish the new
owner with a brand certificate.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.8.
IC 15-5-14-8
Determination of renewal date
Sec. 8. (a) By January 1 of each fifth year following the original
recording with the board, each owner of a brand of record shall
submit to the board a renewal fee to be established by the board.
(b) For the purpose of determining the renewal date, the period
between the date a brand is recorded by the board and January 1 of
the next year constitutes the first year of the five (5) year period.
(c) If the owner of a brand of record fails, refuses, or neglects to
pay the fee by June 30 of the year in which it is due, the brand shall
be forfeited and no longer carried in the record. A forfeited brand
may not be issued to another person for a period of five (5) years
following the date of forfeiture. During that five (5) year period, the
former owner of record may make application to the commission for
reinstatement of a forfeited brand. Such an application shall be
accompanied by a reinstatement fee established by the board. The
renewal date for a reinstatement brand shall remain the same, and
renewal fees on such brands shall be due on January 1 of each fifth
year following original recording.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.9.
IC 15-5-14-9
Use of unrecorded brand
Sec. 9. Use of unrecorded brand. (a) Except as otherwise provided
for in this section, no person may use any brand for identifying
livestock, unless the brand has been recorded as provided for in this
chapter. When a recorded brand is applied to livestock which may
have been branded by a previous owner, such brand must be applied
so as not to overlap, obliterate, disfigure, or mutilate the existing
brand or brands.
(b) Brands consisting of arabic numerals only may be used for
individual livestock identification if they are located at least ten (10)
inches away from any recorded brand. Such brands for individual
identification are not to be recorded.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1.
IC 15-5-14-10
Publication of recorded brands
Sec. 10. The board shall publish all recorded brands in book form
and shall publish supplemental lists at least once each year. This
book and all supplements shall contain a facsimile of all brands
recorded together with the owner's name and legal mailing address.
The board shall, without charge, furnish copies of the brand book
and supplements to state and county law enforcement agencies
within the state. The general public may obtain copies by remitting
to the board the cost of printing and mailing each book and
accompanying supplements.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.10.
IC 15-5-14-11
Reported livestock thefts
Sec. 11. The board, in cooperation with law enforcement officials
in this and other states, shall develop a uniform procedure for
notifying livestock markets and livestock slaughtering establishments
of reported livestock thefts.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.11.
IC 15-5-14-12
Sale and transportation of livestock
Sec. 12. Sale and transportation of livestock. (a) All persons
selling livestock branded with their brand recorded in a current state
brand book or supplement thereto shall execute to the purchaser a
written bill of sale bearing the signature and residence of the seller,
the name and address of the purchaser, the total number of livestock
sold, a description of each animal sold as to sex and kind, and all
registered brands. A copy of the bill of sale shall be given to each
hauler of livestock, other than railroads, and must accompany the
shipment of livestock while in transit. The bill of sale or a copy shall
be shown by the possessor on demand to any law enforcement or
peace officer. The bill of sale is prima facie evidence of the
conveyance of title of the livestock described by the bill of sale.
(b) Persons engaged in the business of transporting or hauling
livestock in the state shall, upon receiving such livestock for
transportation, issue a waybill or bill of lading for all livestock
transported or hauled by them, and such waybill or bill of lading
shall accompany the shipment of livestock with a copy thereof being
furnished to the person delivering livestock to the hauler. The
waybill or bill of lading shall show the place of origin and
destination of the shipment, the name of the owner of the livestock,
date and time of loading, name of person or company hauling the
livestock, the number of livestock and a general description thereof,
including the identifying brands. The waybill or bill of lading shall
be signed by the person delivering the livestock to the hauler
certifying that the information contained thereon is correct.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1.
IC 15-5-14-13
Charges for recording and rerecording of brands
Sec. 13. (a) The board may establish and collect up to thirty-five
dollars ($35) for each brand recording and fair and reasonable
charges related to the cost of administering a brand recordation
program for:
(1) the rerecording of brands;
(2) the recording of instruments transferring ownership of
brands; and
(3) certificates of recordation or rerecordation of brands.
(b) The money received by the board shall be deposited in the
brand registration fund. The brand registration fund is a
nonbudgetary fund, and the money remaining in the brand
registration fund at the end of a fiscal year does not revert to the state
general fund. The board may disburse money from the brand
registration fund for the purpose of defraying the administrative costs
of implementing this chapter.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.164-1985,
SEC.12.
IC 15-5-14-14
Offenses; forgery included
Sec. 14. (a) A person who, without permission of the owner,
applies a brand to livestock for the purpose of transferring ownership
of that livestock commits a Class C felony.
(b) A person who knowingly destroys or alters a brand recorded
with the board from any livestock for the purpose of concealing the
identity of the owner of that livestock commits a Class C felony.
(c) A person who knowingly sells or offers for sale livestock
whose brand has been destroyed or altered for the purpose of
concealing the identity of the owner of that livestock commits a
Class C felony.
(d) A person who knowingly purchases livestock whose brand has
been destroyed or altered for the purpose of concealing the identity
of the owner of that livestock commits a Class C felony.
(e) A livestock brand constitutes a written instrument for purposes
of IC 35-43-5.
As added by Acts 1977, P.L.175, SEC.1. Amended by Acts 1978,
P.L.2, SEC.1545; P.L.164-1985, SEC.13.
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