One brand to be awarded or recorded for each owner; brands for separate and distinct livestock units; identical or similar brands; applicability; recording of unlawful earmarks prohibited

1. Only one brand may be awarded or recorded for each owner of animals, except that the owner or owners of separate and distinct livestock units may, under the provisions of this chapter and within the discretion of the Department, record one brand for use in connection with and for each such distinct and separate livestock unit. 2. No brand may be recorded or used which is identical with or, in the opinion of the Department, so similar to any brand previously recorded and remaining of legal record, or any abandoned brand which has not been abandoned for 1 year, as provided in NRS 564.120, that it may cause confusion as to the identity or ownership of animals, or which may be readily used to obliterate or alter any legally recorded brand that is used in the same area in this State. 3. The provisions of this section do not apply to the rerecording of any brand legally recorded on July 1, 1961, and remaining of legal record in this State under the provisions of this chapter insofar as the legal owners of the brand on July 1, 1961, are concerned, until July 1, 1976, or to brands legally transferred as provided for in NRS 564.110. 4. After July 1, 1959, an earmark may not be recorded which violates the provisions of subsection 3 of NRS 564.020.