108 Western Live-stock Management 
BRAND LAWS AND INSPECTION 
In most states brands must be registered with some 
authorized state official before they can be recognized as 
any proof of ownership. Duplication of brands is not 
allowed ; that is, every man in the state must have a differ- 
ent brand. Cattle-men running stock close to the state 
boundary usually have their brands recorded in both 
states. The details of brand registration vary with the 
different states and furthermore may be changed from 
time to time. Exact information for any state may 
be obtained from the agricultural college, the state veteri- 
narian, or any prominent stockman. 
Nearly all western states have laws requiring the in- 
spection of the brands of cattle shipped out of the state. 
The inspection is usually made at the point of shipment 
and a permanent record is kept of all branded cattle 
shipped. Of course the details of inspection vary in 
the different states. In addition to these local inspectors, 
the state cattle-men’s association commonly employ 
salaried brand inspectors at the large market centers to 
inspect the brands of all cattle shipped from the territory 
of their association. Sometimes in the smaller markets, 
two or more states combine to employ an inspector. 
While these inspectors are in private employ, state laws 
usually give them certain police authority and allow them 
te stop payment on any stock when the ownership is 
questionable. The object of brand inspection is to dis- 
courage stealing, to make prosecution easier where theft 
has occurred, and to aid in the restoration of strays. The 
inspection at the large market centers is usually very 
thorough, but that done by local inspectors at the shipping 
points is not always so carefully or so competently per- 
formed. 
