FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS   

You will need to get an inspection done whenever you are transporting livestock into New Mexico from another state, out of New Mexico to another state, or transporting livestock between NMLB districts. To schedule an inspection with a brand inspector in your district click the Schedule Inspection link below.

Schedule an Inspection

To receive a replacement brand card, mail a $10 check or money order (for each extra card) along with your brand Master # to our office and we will send replacement(s) in the mail. You may also purchase replacement cards in-person at our Albuquerque office.

If you need to change the address associated with your brand, you can do so using the link below. This will download a form that you must fill out, sign and mail in to us.

Brand Change of Address Form

Request a copy by calling (505) 841-6161. Original embossed replacements are $10. These must be paid by check or money order only. A temporary can be emailed to you while awaiting the original replacement.

To see a map of our districts and schedule an inspection with one of ours inspectors, please visit the personnel directory link below.

Shedule an Inspection

To register a brand in New Mexico, you will have to download and fill our application form. The form must accompany a $100 brand recording fee. Use the links below for more information and to download the application form.

Registering a Brand
Cattle and/or Horse Brand Application
Sheep and/or Goat Brand Application

Brand registration needs to be renewed every three years during our rerecord period to remain current. You will be notified by US mail and/or electronically be email prior to the renewal period. Brand registration can be renewed online with a credit card, sent with a check made payable to the New Mexico Livestock board (please include master number on the memo line of the check), or they can be renewed in our office. Our address for both mailing in your renewal and renewing in person renewals is:

New Mexico Livestock Board
2105 Osuna Rd NE, Building South
Albuquerque, NM 87113-3203

You can use the button below to renew your brand online:

For more information see the link below.

Renewing a Brand

Ownership of a brand is a property right and may be sold and transferred. The fee for the transfer of a brand is $100. The $100 dollar fee is waived if the transfer is done during our rerecord period and only the $100 renewal fee is required. The fee is subject to change. To initiate transfer of your brand you will need to download and complete a form. If the owner of the brand is deceased, a copy of the death certificate is required. Other documents pertaining to court appointed personal representatives or probates may be required.See the link below to download the necessary form.

Brand Transfer Form

When owning and transporting horses within New Mexico you must have either a one-way Form 1 inspection or a Permanent Equine Transportation Permit(Form 1-H) if leaving your livestock district. 

The following abbreviations are used for listing the locations of brands on livestock:

L - refers to the left side of the animal.
R - refers to the right side of the animal.

H: Hip J: Jaw N: Neck R: Rib S: Shoulder

C: Cattle H: Horses S: Sheep

Examples of Combinations:

LHC - Left hip Cattle RHC - Right hip cattle
RSH - Right shoulder horses LRC - Left rib cattle
LSHC - Left shoulder hip cattle LHH - Left hip horses

For more details, click the link below:

Reading Brands

Yes. New Mexico Statue 77-16-1 (Article 16) Reads:

Every gardener, farmer, planter or other person having lands or crops that would be injured by trespassing animals, shall make a sufficient fence about his land in cultivation, or other lands that may be so injured, the same to correspond with the requirements of the laws of this state prescribing and defining a legal fence.

And:

Owner's duty to enclose property. — Where the running of livestock is lawful, it is the duty of the owner of property to effectively enclose it should he desire to keep roaming stock off his premises.

For more details, see the link below.

Animals and Livestock Statutes - Chapter 77

In New Mexico, all sexually intact sheep and goats, regardless of age and wethers 18 months and older must have a permanent official ID approved by the USDA. This can be a flock ID with Individual Animal ID on tag, Scrapie tags, Serial ID tags (State code with serials numbers and letters), or Animal Identification Number (AIN) (RFID or visual). In goats, certain breed registry tattoos are accepted forms of official ID.

No. It is unlawful to remove any form of permanent ID including a scrapie tag because it traces the animal back to the flock of origin.

Call (505) 841-6161 to obtain a Premises ID. Please have physical address of where livestock are housed or produced when calling. Address exceptions may be required when a physical address cannot be USPS verified.