The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), through its Office of Veterinary Services, is responsible for maintaining registered cattle brands. The list of currently registered cattle brands is updated and published annually.

Currently, Virginia does not have a brand registry for horses.

Cattle Brand Registration

To register a cattle brand, applicants must print and submit a completed Cattle Brand Application by mail to the Office of Veterinary Services. The registration fee is $10.00 per location.

Accepted payment methods:

• Check
• Money Order
• * Cash is not accepted

Make checks or money orders payable to “Treasurer of Virginia”.

Mailing Address:

• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
• Office of Veterinary Services
• P.O. Box 1163
• Richmond, VA 23218

Upon receipt of your application, VDACS will review your cattle brand to verify that it is not a duplicate. If the brand is approved, VDACS will process the application fee, record the brand in the official register, and issue a cattle brand certificate by mail.

Brand Specifications

Character limits:

• 26 letters of the alphabet, numbers two to nine.

Symbol limits:

• Bar
• Slash box
• Half-box
• Arrow
• Diamond
• Half-diamond
• Triangle
• Quarter-circle

All brands must be at least two characters and no more than three.

Brand Renewal

The State Veterinary Office will send renewal notices for registered cattle brands. To maintain registration, brands must be renewed or transferred to another person by the deadline.

Renewal Details:

• Brand Registrations are Renewed every 5 years
• Renewal Fee: $10.00 per brand
• Renewal fee(s) may be paid by check or money order only

Brand Transfer

Registered cattle brands are the personal property of the individual who registered them. A registered brand can be transferred to another owner for a fee of $3.00.

Information & Resources

For more details on Virginia state law governing brand registration, please refer to Chapter 80. Requirements Governing the Branding of Cattle in Virginia.

• Cattle Brand Application (pdf)
• Register of Cattle Brands (pdf)

Contact

Office of Veterinary Services
102 Governor Street
Richmond, VA 23219

Phone: 804.786.2483

Visit the Office of Veterinary Services.