The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

On Saturday, January 1, 2022, the Montana Department of Livestock (MDOL) Brand Re-record period ended. Brand Re-record is a one year period in which Montana brand owners renew their brands with the state to ensure an accurate record of livestock brands that are still in use. Brand Re-record began in 1921 and occurs every ten years.

As of January 1, 2021, there were 55,567 brands recorded with the Department of Livestock. By December 31, 2021, 47,663 brands were rerecorded. During the re-record year, the Department of Livestock also recorded 1,000 new brands and completed over 3,000 brand transfers. Brands that were not rerecorded in 2021 are now inactive. Once a brand is inactive, applicants must re-apply for the brand as a new brand.

"This was a demanding year for the Brands Office, processing nearly 50,000 brands," said Administrator Ethan Wilfore. "We understand the struggles faced by producers this past year but appreciate that many were still timely to prioritize and re-record their brands."

All brand owners who re-recorded their brands in 2021 should have received a new brand certificate in the mail. Brand owners who did not receive their new certificate in the mail or are unsure if their brand was rerecorded should contact the Montana Department of Livestock Brands Enforcement Division at (406) 444-2045 as soon as possible.

The mission of the Montana Department of Livestock is to control and eradicate animal diseases, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to humans, and to protect the livestock industry from theft and predatory animals. For more information on the MDOL, visit https://liv.mt.gov/.