For the last quite a few years, Nebraska would not issue any new rib brands. You could still get a rib brand if you bought it from someone who currently had the brand in force. If anyone ever let a brand expire, and it was re-issued, it would only be on the shoulder or hip.
Just recently, Nebraska went back to issuing rib brands. They considered it revenue that they had not been getting, and there seemed to neither be any premiums paid for hides with only hip brands, and there were no discounts for hides that did have a rib brand.
Every once in a while, even in a bureaucracy, common sense prevails. Good deal.
Now if we could just persuade the powers that be that the horse industry needs to be able to kill and butcher old horses who have outlived their usefulness..........But that is a whole 'nother problem.