Any person, firm or corporation, who shall kill or cause to be killed, for sale or use any unbranded neat cattle, or any cattle on which the brand has not peeled off and fully healed, unless such cattle shall have an older and duly recorded brand; or shall kill, or cause to be killed for sale or use any neat cattle having a brand not legally owned by such person, firm or corporation, without having taken a duly acknowledged bill of sale for the same from the owner thereof, shall be deemed guilty of a petty misdemeanor.
NMS § 30-18-8