47-420. Unlawful use of brands; additional marking systems; feedlot brands. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use any brand for branding any livestock unless such brand has been duly registered in the office of the animal health commissioner, except: (1) The use of a single numeral digit, zero to nine, in conjunction with the registered brand of the owner may be used for the purpose of determining the age of the branded animal, such number to be applied at least six inches from such registered brand; (2) the use of serial numbers in conjunction with the registered brand of the owner may be used for the purpose of identifying individual animals, such numbers to be applied at least six inches from the registered brand; (3) the use of numbers in conjunction with the registered brand of the owner may be used for the purpose of identifying herds of the same owner for feeding or experimental purposes, such numbers to be applied at least six inches from the registered brand; and (4) the use of a digital system of branding livestock may be used for the purpose of identifying animals in a licensed feedlot. Such feedlot brand may be used in conjunction with the registered brand of the owner, such brand to be applied at least six inches from such registered brand or may be used on animals which are not branded with a registered brand of the owner, subject to conditions, limitations and requirements applicable to the use of a feedlot brand as prescribed in K.S.A. 47-446, and amendments thereto.

(b) The age, serial, herd or feedlot brand shall not be construed as a part of the registered brand and the use of such numeral or numerals, whether or not such use is in conjunction with a registered brand, shall not be unlawful.

(c) The animal health commissioner may allow applicants to denote on an application for a registered brand whether the applicant shall use age, serial or herd brands, and may allow the owner of a registered brand to amend the registered brand to denote whether the applicant will use such age, serial or herd brands.

History: L. 1939, ch. 222, § 7; L. 1955, ch. 259, § 1; L. 1957, ch. 303, § 1; L. 1973, ch. 212, § 1; L. 1974, ch. 223, § 1; L. 1991, ch. 152, § 5; L. 2012, ch. 140, § 18; L. 2016, ch. 51, § 8; July 1.