Court: Identical cattle brands OK on different location

[Ptah]

PHOENIX — The Arizona Court of Appeals has weighed in on a topic that’s older than the state itself: cattle brands.

The court said in a split decision that the state Department of Agriculture didn’t break state law when it allowed a California ranching company to register a cattle brand that was already owned by Eloy rancher David Stambaugh.

The department allowed the use of the Bar 7 brand by the Eureka Springs Cattle Co., if it branded its cattle on the left rib. Stambaugh uses his longtime brand on the left hip of his cows.

The ruling left the 49-year-old Stambaugh stunned. He has owned the brand since he was 10 years old, when a retired rancher who was friends with his family sold it to him along with 10 cows for $10.

http://tucson.com/ap/state/court-identical-cattle-brands-ok-on-different-location/article_22fea6f9-ae8b-56c5-809e-6fc7ef85d199.html

[Kali]

1. it is rediculous

I am stunned too. Brands are required by law to prove ownership and the court allows duplicates? I have to say the folks in the brand dept here (Phx!) do NOT have a very good reputation (though they seem to have improved in the last year or so) and I can see how this happened originally. And there are any number of brand inspectors who couldn't read a brand printed neatly on a piece of paper, much less smeared on a furry hide. But for the court to uphold it? ugh, ignorant city dwellers.

back in the 80's my neighbors (the good ones) couldn't bring their brand from New Mexico because it was similar to another brand here, not the same, similar - and in a different location!

I don't see what the problem is for the Californians to rebrand is. Something wrong there.

of course there is the problem with every idiot with a new ranchette wanting to have a real brand even though they will never own a single head of livestock.

[Ptah]

2. Would the same court allow me to have the same license plate as my neighbor

if I put it on the left side of my rear bumper since neighbor's is in the middle?

I don't think so.

[Kali]

3. plus you probably drive a different make or color vehicle so it should be OK right?