95.11 Livestock branding.

(1) Definitions. As used in this section:

(a) “Brand" means an identification mark which is burned, tattooed or otherwise permanently marked onto livestock in accordance with department rules. A brand shall consist of a symbol, letter, or combinations of symbols, letters or numbers in a specific location but does not include ear notches or similar disfigurement, a mark which is solely a numeral or a mark required by law for official identification in disease control programs.

(b) “Livestock" means cattle and horses.

(2) Adoption and use. Any person may adopt an exclusive brand by recording such brand under sub. (3).

(3) Recording; fees.

(a) Any person desiring to adopt any brand, not the recorded brand of another person, shall forward to the department a facsimile of the desired brand, together with a written application and a recording fee. Upon receipt the department shall record the brand, unless the brand is of record as that of some other person or conflicts with the recorded brand of any person. If the brand does not qualify for recording, or there is a conflict between applications received on the same date, the facsimile and fee shall be returned to the applicant. If the brand is accepted, the ownership thereof shall vest from the date of filing.

(b) In 1984 and every 10th year thereafter, every owner of a brand shall rerecord the brand according to department rules. At the expiration of each recording period the department shall notify every owner of a brand at the owner's address of record that the brand has not been rerecorded and that the brand must be rerecorded within 90 days. Failure to rerecord the brand is an abandonment of the brand, and it can be recorded by another applicant thereafter.

(c) Any recorded brand is subject to transfer as personal property. Instruments evidencing transfer of a brand shall be recorded by the department upon payment of a transfer fee.

(d) The fee for initial recording is $20, and for rerecording and transfer is $10. When any brand is recorded, the owner is entitled to one certified copy of the recorded brand. Additional certified copies may be obtained upon the payment of $2 for each copy.

(4) Suit by owner. An owner of a recorded brand may sue for injunctive relief and damages arising from an unauthorized use of the owner's brand on livestock and a judgment in the owner's favor may include costs and reasonable attorney fees.

History: 1973 c. 239; 1993 a. 490, 492; 1995 a. 225.