Title 16 — Title 16 ANIMALS AND LIVESTOCK
20 chapters · 350 sections in this title.
RCW 16.57.010 Definitions.
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The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Brand" means a permanent fire brand or any artificial mark, other than an individual identification symbol, approved by the director to be used in conjunction with a b…
RCW 16.57.015 Livestock identification advisory committee—Rule review—Fee setting.
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(1) The director shall establish a livestock identification advisory committee. The committee shall be composed of 12 voting members appointed by the director as follows: Two beef producers, two cattle feeders, two dairy producers, two livestock market owners, two meat processors…
RCW 16.57.020 Livestock brands—Director is the recorder—Recording fee.
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The director shall be the recorder of livestock brands and such brands shall not be recorded elsewhere in this state. Any person desiring to record a livestock brand shall apply on a form prescribed by the director. The application shall be accompanied by a facsimile of the brand…
RCW 16.57.023 Permanent renewal of brands—Heritage brands—Fees.
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The director may adopt rules establishing criteria and fees for the permanent renewal of brands registered with the department but renewed as livestock heritage brands. Such heritage brands are not intended for use on livestock.[ 2003 c 326 s 5; 1998 c 263 s 5.]
RCW 16.57.025 Livestock inspection—Licensed and accredited veterinarians—Field livestock inspectors—Fees—Revocation of certification.
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(1) The director may enter into agreements with Washington state licensed and accredited veterinarians, who have been certified by the director, to perform livestock inspection.(2) The department must maintain a list of field livestock inspectors who are certified to perform live…
RCW 16.57.030 Tattoo brands and marks not recordable.
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The director shall not record tattoo brands or marks for any purpose.[ 2003 c 326 s 7; 1959 c 54 s 3.]
RCW 16.57.040 Production record brands.
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The director may provide for the use of production record brands. Numbers for such brands shall be issued at the discretion of the director and shall be placed on livestock immediately below the recorded ownership brand or any other location prescribed by the director.[ 2003 c 32…
RCW 16.57.050 Use of unrecorded brand prohibited—Exception.
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No person shall place a brand on livestock for any purpose unless the brand is recorded with the director in the person's name.[ 2003 c 326 s 9; 1959 c 54 s 5.]
RCW 16.57.060 Brands similar to governmental brands not to be recorded.
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No brand shall be recorded for ownership purposes which will be applied in the same location and is similar or identical to a brand used or reserved for ownership or health purposes by a governmental agency or the agent of such an agency.[ 1959 c 54 s 6.]
RCW 16.57.070 Conflicting claims to brand.
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The director shall determine conflicting claims between applicants to a brand, and in so doing shall consider the priority of applicants.[ 1959 c 54 s 7.]
RCW 16.57.080 Renewal of recorded brands—Schedule—Fee—Failure to pay.
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The director shall establish by rule a schedule for the renewal of recorded brands. The fee for renewal of a recorded brand shall be one hundred twenty dollars for each four-year period of brand ownership, except that the director may, in adopting a renewal schedule, provide for …
RCW 16.57.090 Brand is personal property—Instruments affecting title, recording, effect—Fee—Nonliability of director for agents.
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A brand is the personal property of the owner of record. Any instrument affecting the title of the brand shall be executed by the recorded owner and acknowledged by a notary public. The director shall record the instrument upon presentation and payment of a recording fee of twent…
RCW 16.57.100 Right to use brand—Brand as evidence of title.
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The right to use a brand shall be evidenced by the original certificate issued by the director showing that the brand is of present record or a certified copy of the record of the brand showing that it is of present record. A healed brand of record on livestock shall be prima fac…
RCW 16.57.105 Preemptory right to use brand.
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Any person having a brand recorded with the department shall have a preemptory right to use such brand and its design under any newly approved method of branding adopted by the director.[ 1967 c 240 s 38.]
RCW 16.57.110 Size and characteristics of brand.
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No brand shall be placed on livestock that is not permanent in nature and of a size that is not readily visible. The director, in order to assure that brands are readily visible, may prescribe the size of branding irons to be used for ownership brands.[ 1959 c 54 s 11.]
RCW 16.57.120 Removal or alteration of brand—Penalty.
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No person shall remove or alter a brand of record on livestock without first having secured the written permission of the director. Violation of this section is a gross misdemeanor.[ 2003 c 326 s 13; 1991 c 110 s 2; 1959 c 54 s 12.]
RCW 16.57.130 Similar brands not to be recorded.
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The director shall not record a brand that is identical to a brand of present record; nor a brand so similar to a brand of present record that it will be difficult to distinguish between the brands when applied to livestock.[ 2003 c 326 s 14; 1959 c 54 s 13.]
RCW 16.57.140 Certified copy of record of brand—Fee.
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The owner of a brand of record may obtain from the director a certified copy of the record of the owner's brand upon payment of a fee of fifteen dollars.[ 2003 c 326 s 15; 1994 c 46 s 18; 1993 c 354 s 7; 1974 ex.s. c 64 s 4; 1959 c 54 s 14.]Notes:Effective date—1994 c 46: See not…
RCW 16.57.150 Brand book—Contents—Costs.
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The director shall publish a book to be known as the "Washington State Brand Book", showing all the brands of record. The book shall contain the name and address of the owners of brands of record and a copy of the livestock identification laws and rules. Supplements to the brand …
RCW 16.57.153 Administration of brands—Rules.
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The director may adopt rules necessary to administer the recording and changing of ownership of brands.[ 2003 c 326 s 17.]
RCW 16.57.160 Cattle or horses—Rules—Mandatory inspection points—Self-inspection certificates—Dairy cattle identification tags—Fees.
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(1) The director may adopt rules:(a) Designating any point for mandatory inspection of cattle or horses or the furnishing of proof that cattle or horses passing or being transported through the point have been inspected or identified and are lawfully being transported;(b) Providi…
RCW 16.57.165 Agreements with others to perform livestock inspection.
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The director may, in order to reduce the cost of inspection to livestock owners, enter into agreements with any qualified county, municipal, or other local law enforcement agency, or qualified individuals for the purpose of performing livestock inspection in areas where inspectio…
RCW 16.57.170 Inspection of livestock, hides, records.
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The director may enter at any reasonable time any slaughterhouse or public livestock market to inspect livestock or hides, and may enter at any reasonable time an establishment where hides are held to inspect them for brands or other means of identification. The director may ente…
RCW 16.57.180 Search warrants.
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Should the director be denied access to any premises or establishment where access was sought for the purposes set forth in RCW 16.57.170, the director may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for a search warrant authorizing access to the premises or establishment for th…
RCW 16.57.200 Duty of owner or agent—Livestock inspection.
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Any owner or his or her agent shall make livestock being inspected readily accessible and shall cooperate with the director to carry out the inspection in a safe and expeditious manner.[ 2003 c 326 s 22; 1959 c 54 s 20.]
RCW 16.57.210 Arrest without warrant.
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The director shall have authority to arrest without warrant anywhere in the state any person found in the act of, or whom the director has reason to believe is guilty of, transporting, holding, selling, or slaughtering stolen livestock. Any person arrested by the director shall b…
RCW 16.57.220 Livestock inspection—Fee schedule—Certificates.
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(1) Except as provided for in RCW 16.65.090 and otherwise in this section, the fee for livestock inspection is $4 per head for cattle and $3.85 for horses, with a call out fee of $20.(2) When cattle are identified with the owner's brand, electronic official individual identificat…
RCW 16.57.223 Payment of inspection fee—Due at inspection—Lien—Late fee.
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(1) Any inspection fee shall be paid to the department by the owner or person in possession of the livestock unless the inspection is requested by the purchaser and then the fee shall be paid by the purchaser.(2) Except as provided by rule, the inspection fee is due and payable a…
RCW 16.57.230 Charges for livestock inspection—Actual inspection required.
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No person shall collect or make a charge for inspection of livestock unless there has been an actual inspection of the livestock.[ 2003 c 326 s 26; 1995 c 374 s 50; 1959 c 54 s 23.]Notes:Effective date—1995 c 374 ss 1-47, 50-53, and 59-68: See note following RCW 15.36.012.
RCW 16.57.240 Certificates of permit, inspection, self-inspection.
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(1) Certificates of permit, inspection certificates, and self-inspection certificates meeting the requirements of RCW 16.57.160 shall show the owner, number, breed, sex, brand, or other method of identification of the cattle or horses and any other necessary information required …
RCW 16.57.243 Moving or transporting cattle—Certificate or proof of ownership must accompany—Exceptions.
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(1) Cattle may not be moved or transported within Washington state without being accompanied by a certificate of permit, inspection certificate, self-inspection certificate meeting the requirements of RCW 16.57.160, or other satisfactory proof of ownership, except when the cattle…
RCW 16.57.245 Authority to stop vehicles carrying cattle or horses.
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The director or any peace officer may stop vehicles carrying cattle or horses to determine if the livestock being transported are accompanied by a certificate of permit, inspection certificate, self-inspection certificate meeting the requirements of RCW 16.57.010, or other satisf…
RCW 16.57.260 Removal of cattle or horses from state—Inspection certificate required.
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It is unlawful for any person to remove or cause to be removed or accept for removal from this state, any cattle or horses which are not accompanied at all times by an inspection certificate on such cattle or horses, except as provided by rule adopted under this chapter.[ 2003 c …
RCW 16.57.267 Failure to present animal for inspection.
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It is unlawful for any person to fail to present an animal for inspection at any mandatory inspection point designated by the director by rule under this chapter.[ 2003 c 326 s 31.]
RCW 16.57.270 Unlawful to refuse assistance in establishing identity and ownership of livestock.
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It is unlawful for any person moving or transporting livestock in this state to refuse to assist the director or any peace officer in establishing the identity and ownership of the livestock being moved or transported.[ 2003 c 326 s 32; 1959 c 54 s 27.]
RCW 16.57.275 Transporting cattle carcass or primal part—Certificate of permit required.
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Any cattle carcass, or primal part thereof, of any breed or age being transported in this state from other than a state or federal licensed and inspected slaughterhouse or common carrier hauling for the slaughterhouse, shall be accompanied by a certificate of permit signed by the…
RCW 16.57.277 Custom slaughter beef tags—Fee—Rules.
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Any person licensed as a custom farm slaughterer under RCW 16.49.035 shall complete and attach a custom slaughter beef tag to each of the four quarters of all slaughtered cattle handled by the slaughterer. The tags must remain on the quarters until the quarters are cut and wrappe…
RCW 16.57.280 Possession of cattle or horse marked with another's brand—Penalty.
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(1) No person shall knowingly have possession of any cattle or horse marked with a recorded brand of another person unless the:(a) Cattle or horse lawfully bears the person's own healed recorded brand;(b) Cattle or horse is accompanied by a certificate of permit from the owner of…
RCW 16.57.290 Impounding cattle and horses—No certificate or proof of ownership when offered for sale—Disposition.
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All cattle and horses that are not accompanied by a certificate of permit, inspection certificate, self-inspection certificate meeting the requirements of RCW 16.57.160, or other satisfactory proof of ownership when offered for sale and presented for inspection by the director, s…
RCW 16.57.300 Proceeds from sale of impounded cattle and horses—Paid to director.
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The proceeds from the sale of cattle and horses when impounded under RCW 16.57.290, after paying the cost thereof, shall be paid to the director, who shall make a record showing the brand or marks or other method of identification of the animals and the amount realized from the s…
RCW 16.57.310 Notice of sale—Claim on proceeds.
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When a person has been notified by registered mail that animals bearing the person's recorded brand have been sold by the director, the person shall present to the director a claim on the proceeds within thirty days from the receipt of the notice or the director may decide that n…
RCW 16.57.320 Disposition of proceeds of sale when no proof of ownership—Penalty for accepting proceeds after sale, barter, trade.
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If, after the expiration of one year from the date of sale, the person presenting the animals for inspection has not provided the director with satisfactory proof of ownership, the proceeds from the sale shall be paid on the claim of the owner of the recorded brand. However, it s…
RCW 16.57.330 Disposition of proceeds of sale—No claim made—No proof of ownership provided.
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If, after the expiration of one year from the date of sale, no claim under RCW 16.57.310 is made or no satisfactory proof of ownership is provided under RCW 16.57.320, the money shall be credited to the department to be expended in carrying out the provisions of this chapter.[ 20…
RCW 16.57.340 Reciprocal agreements—When livestock from another state an estray, sale.
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The director has the authority to enter into reciprocal agreements with any or all states to prevent the theft, misappropriation, or loss of identification of livestock. The director may declare any livestock which is shipped or moved into this state from those states estrays if …
RCW 16.57.350 Rules—Enforcement of chapter.
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The director may adopt such rules as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. It shall be the duty of the director to enforce and carry out the provisions of this chapter and/or rules adopted hereunder. No person shall interfere with the director when he or she is…
RCW 16.57.353 Rules—Compliance with federal requirements.
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(1) The director may adopt rules:(a) To support the agriculture industry in meeting federal requirements for the country-of-origin labeling of meat. Any requirements established under this subsection for country of origin labeling purposes shall be substantially consistent with a…
RCW 16.57.360 Civil infractions—Time and mileage fee.
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(1)(a) The department is authorized to issue notices of and enforce civil infractions in the manner prescribed under chapter 7.80 RCW.(b) The violation of any provision of this chapter and/or rules adopted under this chapter shall constitute a class 1 civil infraction as provided…
RCW 16.57.370 Disposition of fees.
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All fees collected under the provisions of this chapter shall be deposited in an account in the agricultural local fund and used to carry out the purposes of this chapter, except as otherwise provided.[ 2013 c 313 s 2; 2003 c 326 s 43; 1959 c 54 s 37.]Notes:Fees provided in chapt…
RCW 16.57.400 Horse and cattle identification—Inspection when consigned for sale.
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Horses and cattle may be identified by individual identification certificates or other means of identification authorized by the director. The certificates or other means of identification are valid only for the use of the owner in whose name it is issued.Horses and cattle identi…
RCW 16.57.405 Microchip in a horse—Removal with intent to defraud—Gross misdemeanor.
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A person who removes or causes to be removed a microchip implanted in a horse, or who removes or causes to be removed a microchip from one horse and implants or causes it to be implanted in another horse, with the intent to defraud a subsequent purchaser, is guilty of a gross mis…