Va. Code Ann. § 3.2-6016

It shall be unlawful for any person to, unless in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to this article, alter, deface, change from one animal to another, mutilate, substitute, remove, misrepresent, or otherwise interfere with any tag, brand, tattoo, mark, or other identification adopted or used by any county, the Commissioner, the Board, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or any other state for the identification of any animal in the Commonwealth or shipped into the Commonwealth for the purpose of controlling or eradicating disease.