Cattle producers are encouraged to re-register their cattle brands in order to guard against livestock theft.  In Texas brands have to be re-registered every 10 years.

Brand re-registration always begins in the year ending with a 1.  For example, the next brand re-registration period begins Aug. 31, 2011, and closes Feb. 29, 2012.

If you do not re-register within that period, then your brand is up for grabs by someone else. Brands must be re-registered within that period regardless of the date it was originally registered. See Section 144.04 of the Texas Agriculture Code.

How do I register my brand?  Brands are registered in Texas by the county clerk of the county in which you run livestock. Moreover, the brand must be registered by the county clerk for the brand to be considered a legal means of ownership.

To help guide ranchers through the brand re-registration process, Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association (TSCRA) has launched a website at www.tscrabrands.com. Working in conjunction with the 254 county clerk offices in Texas, this site provides the necessary paperwork and information to register brands, as well as information on current brands, designing, and reading brands.

In Nueces County, the Brand Application is online and can be found athttp://www.co.nueces.tx.us/countyclerk/pdf/brand_app.pdf