The South Dakota Brand Board announces an increase in the brand inspection fee to 90 cents per head, effective Sept. 1, 2012.
The brand inspection fee has been 80 cents since 2007.
Higher costs of the inspection program necessitated the larger fee that is charged for required ownership inspections of cattle, horses and mules before their sale, slaughter or removal from the Livestock Ownership Inspection Area west of the Missouri River.
State Brand Board Director Larry Stearns also reminds ranchers that, as of July 1, leaving the ownership inspection area without inspection is a Class 1 misdemeanor with a maximum penalty of $2,000 and one year in jail.
Cowboys apply a registered brand to a calf that will help identify it the animal.
Because the drought has prompted earlier fall cattle sales, Stearns says producers needing local inspections should contact their brand inspector as early as possible before shipping day to avoid delays.
South Dakota brand law dates back to Dakota Territory 1862. The Board provides a program for livestock brand registration, ownership inspection and livestock theft and fraud investigation and brand law violations. The board employs a Director to administer the operation and financial affairs of the Brand Office. The board also employs a Chief Investigator and two Criminal Investigators who are certified law enforcement officers with authority to investigate and enforce brand laws and a Chief Brand Inspector and a group of Brand Inspectors who carry out the brand inspection program.
The Brand Board Office maintains a record of over 26,000 registered livestock brands. It also provides for the transfer of brand ownership, the registration of new brands and the renewal of registered brands. Every five years all brands registered in South Dakota are renewed by the brand owners. After each renewal period the Brand Board publishes a Brand Book of all currently registered brands.
For more information on the inspection fee or to contact an inspector, call the South Dakota State Brand Board at 877-574-0054 or visit www.sdbrandboard.com
Source: SD Brand Board.