The use of hot iron branding of livestock including cattle, horses and other animals is legal in all States and Territories of Australia, with some conditions as specified in the table below.
State
|
Yes/No |
name of relevant act/special conditions and requirements |
| ACT |
Yes |
Code of Practice for Cattle |
| NSW |
Yes |
Section 24 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act provides certain defences. In short, a person accused of an offence is not guilty of an offence if they can satisfy the court (a) at the time the offence was committed, the animal was:
(i) a stock animal – in the course of, and for the purpose of, ear marking or ear tagging the animal or branding, other than firing or hot iron branding of the face of, the animal.
|
| NT |
Yes |
|
| QLD |
Yes |
Hot branding of cattle is allowed under the Model Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals - Cattle, which is an adopted code under the Animal Care and Protection Act . The Brands Act 1915 prohibits the sale of unbranded cattle. See section 24A. The Brands Act limits areas that can be branded to neck, rump, shoulder, thigh and twist. |
| SA |
Yes |
|
| TAS |
Yes |
Animal Welfare Standards under Animal Welfare Act 1993 |
VIC
|
Yes |
Code of Practice for the Welfare of Horses |
WA
|
Yes |
|
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