Owners of livestock brands in Hawai‘i are required to reregister their brands with the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture and Biosecurity (DAB) by December 31, 2025. Failure to do so may result in the loss of rights to those brands. State law mandates that while branding is not compulsory for livestock owners, those who use brands must register them every five years, with a registration fee set at $10.
From 2020 to 2025, there were 803 registered brands in the state. Branding serves as a permanent and unique identification method for cattle, typically applied before animals reach one year old. This system helps trace ownership and is considered an effective way to determine cattle ownership, especially since about 1,100 cattle operations exist in Hawai‘i, ranging from large herds of approximately 25,000 head to smaller groups.
Dr. Isaac Maeda, state veterinarian, stated: “Owners of existing brands may re-register at any time before December 31, 2025. If they do not reregister by December 31, they may potentially lose the right to their brand if someone else applies for it.”
The DAB’s Animal Disease Control Branch oversees the review and approval of brand applications. Brands are approved only after ensuring they are not identical or similar to those already registered. Branding remains widely used in the Western United States because most states require brand inspection for interstate cattle movement.
Brand owners can view currently registered brands through the Hawai‘i Brand Book at https://dab.hawaii.gov/ai/ldc/hawai%CA%BBi-brand-registry/. Registration forms are available at https://dab.hawaii.gov/ai/files/2012/12/DC29.pdf. For further information or assistance with applications, owners can contact the Animal Disease Control Branch by phone or email.
