Every decade, near the end of August in the years ending in one livestock owners in Texas need to re-record your brand. August 30 of this year is the start of the re-recording process. Brands are recorded in the County Clerk’s office in each county you own livestock. A brand record contains a description of the design or elements of your brand, where on the livestock you place your brand, and any earmarks you use to identify your livestock. The brand may be registered in the same county as long as the location on the animal is different. Therefore, when you go to register your brand make sure you get it done for every position on the animal that you intend to put it.

Other states have very different livestock brand registration and laws. In San Saba County the cost to register a brand is $10 per location on the animal. If you do not have a brand you may ask the County Clerk’s office to let you review the official brand record book and then you can research your potential brand design to be certain it is not already in use. When designing a brand keep the image simple. Simple brand designs are easier to read and are cleaner with less smudging and scaring with age.