What are you looking for?

• Renew Existing Brand Window open January through June 1st.
• Search for Existing Brands
• Apply for New Kansas Brand
• Historic Brand Applications
• Report a Livestock Theft

Purpose of Livestock Brands in Kansas

Livestock brands are used on livestock to identify animals. Therefore, if livestock brands are unreadable due to complicated designs that people cannot report or identify, or do not brand well, the livestock brand is not useful. A livestock brand needs to be distinguishable with reasonable certainty from all other current brands. Additionally, if the brand record is not up to date with current contact information, the livestock brand is not helpful in finding owners for lost or taken up animals.

A livestock brand is not intended to be a logo and does not need to be registered to be used as such. A livestock brand however must be registered with the Kansas Division of Animal Health Brand Office before branding any animal.

History of Livestock Brands in Kansas

Brands are markings used to identify livestock. Animal brands have been a visual means of identification throughout history. Starting from the time of the open range to the present, branding has assisted in showing ownership of livestock throughout Kansas.

The original open-fire method was practical in the beginning, followed by the electric iron and then advancing to the freeze-branding method. In Kansas, both the hot and freeze brand methods are recognized. Through registration of a livestock brand in the brands program, this means of identity continues to play a special part in the livestock industry and its history.

Currently, the Brands Program maintains a brand registry of more than 17,000 brands and assists with the market brand inspection program, which is performed by contract. A special investigator assists local law enforcement with lost, stray and stolen livestock, coordinating investigations between agencies and victims.

Livestock Brand Inspection

While brand inspection is not mandatory in Kansas, the state has six contract brand inspectors who provide brand inspection upon request for a fee. In addition, these inspectors serve six Kansas livestock markets that have chosen to contract with the department for inspection services.

Livestock Brand Inspectors

Jim Dunn, St. Francis
785-332-4167

Jason Nelson, Lenora
785-421-8725

Gail Olson, Syracuse
620-384-4844

Dale Stramel, Hays
785-623-1704

Norman Strayer, Norton
785-871-7303

Coleton Valentine, Syracuse
620-449-9271

Kansas Brand Book

We no longer print and offer a bound copy of the Kansas Brand Book.

• Historic Brand Books
• Database of Current Livestock Brands

Contact Info

Mariah Louderback
Brand Recorder
785-564-6609

Special Agent Jim Pinegar
Brand Investigator
785-207-8733

Special Agent Josh Winkler
Brand Investigator
785-338-0554