USDA Finalized New Rules on Imported Cattle Branding

The Department of Agriculture has finalized new cattle branding regulations for imported cattle.  The new rules seek to reduce confusion that has led to animals being improperly rejected for import into the United States.  Meatingplace reports the new rules simplify the branding identifiers for steers, spayed heifers and sexually intact bovines shipped from Mexico.  The new brand is larger than the previous version, and uses only one letter: “M” for all brands.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says the charges should reduce the need for rebranding and the potential for branding errors.  The new rules are scheduled to go into effect mid-January.

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