A ranch worker brands a young steer using an electric branding iron while another makes an earmark.

A hot brand on a horse.

Cowboys branding a calf. South Dakota, 1888

Livestock branding is any technique for marking livestock so as to identify the owner. Originally, livestock branding only referred to a hot brand for large stock, though the term is now also used to refer to other alternative techniques such as freeze branding. Other forms of livestock identification include inner lip or ear tattoos, earmarking, ear tagging, and RFID tagging with a type of microchip. The semi-permanent paint markings used to identify sheep are called a paint brand. In the American west, branding evolved into a complex marking system still in use today. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 560 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (800 × 856 pixel, file size: 250 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Hanoverian (horse) Horse markings ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 560 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (800 × 856 pixel, file size: 250 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Hanoverian (horse) Horse markings ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (844x574, 117 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Livestock branding Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (844x574, 117 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Livestock branding Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ... For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ... An earmark has a different meaning in the field of public finance than in US politics. ... Ear tags - also known as sheep tags or cattle tags - were first developed in the early 1913 as a means to identify livestock, specifically cattle, when testing for tuberculosis. ... An EPC RFID tag used for Wal-Mart Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. ... Microchip can refer to: Microchip (or simply chip) is used rather loosely in electronics. ... Species See text. ... The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditionally refers to the region constituting the westernmost states of the United States (see geographical terminology section for further discussion of these terms). ...

History

The act of marking livestock with fire-heated marks to identify ownership has origins in Ancient times, with use dating back to the Ancient Egyptians.^[1] In English Lexicon, the word brand originally meant anything hot or burning, such as a fire-brand, a burning stick. By the European Middle Ages it commonly identified the process of burning a mark into a stock animals with thick hides, such as cattle, so as to identify ownership under animus revertendi. The practice became particularly widespread in nations with large cattle grazing regions, such as Spain. Khafres Pyramid and the Great Sphinx of Giza, built about 2550 BC during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom,[1] are enduring symbols of the civilization of ancient Egypt Ancient Egypt was a civilization in Northeastern Africa concentrated along the middle to lower reaches of the Nile River... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... For general information about the genus, including other species of cattle, see Bos. ... The term animus revertendi is a latin phrase that means With intention to return (Barrons Law Dictionary 5th Edition). ...

These European customs were imported to the Americas and were further refined by the vaquero tradition in what today is the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In the American West, a branding iron consisted of an iron rod with a simple symbol or mark which cowboys heated in a fire. After the branding iron turned red-hot, the cowboy pressed the branding iron against the hide of the cow. The unique brand meant that cattle owned by multiple ranches could then graze freely together on the open range. Cowboys could then separate the cattle at round-up time for driving to market. American cowboy circa 1887 A cowhand tends livestock, especially cattle. ... The Western United States, also referred to as the American West or simply The West, traditionally refers to the region constituting the westernmost states of the United States (see geographical terminology section for further discussion of these terms). ... For other uses, see Cowboy (disambiguation). ... This article is about a type of land use and method of raising livestock. ... Look up Market in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

From the Americas, many cattle branding traditions and techniques spread to Australia, where a distinct set of traditions and techniques developed

Modern usage

Free-range or open range grazing is less common today than in the past. However, branding still has its uses. The main purpose is in proving ownership of lost or stolen animals. Many western US states have strict laws regarding brands, including brand registration and required brand inspections. In many cases, a brand on an animal is considered prima facie proof of ownership. (See Brand Book) A young waif steals a pair of boots Stealing redirects here. ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... Look up prima facie in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A Brand Book published by the Oklahoma Cattlemens Association. ...

In the hides and leather industry, brands are treated as a defect, and can diminish the value of the hide. This industry has a number of traditional terms relating to the type of brand on a hide. Colorado Branded (slang Collie) refers to placement of a brand on the side of an animal, although this does not necessarily indicate the animal is from Colorado. Butt branded refers to a hide which has had a brand placed on the portion of the skin covering the rump area of the animal. Native refers to a hide without a brand. ^[2] Rawhide is a hide or animal skin that has not been exposed to tanning and thus is much lighter in color than treated animal hides. ... For people named Leather, see Leather (surname). ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ...

Methods of branding

Hot iron horse branding, Spain

Modern table calf branding cradle, NSW, Australia

The traditional cowboy or stockman captured and secured an animal for branding by roping it, laying it over on the ground, tying its legs together, and applying a branding iron that had been heated in a fire. Modern ranch practice has moved toward use of chutes where animals can be run into a confined area and safely secured while the brand is applied. Two types of restraint are the squeeze chute, which closes on either side of a standing animal, or a branding cradle, where the animal is first confined in a chute, then the chute is rotated so the animal is laying on its side. For other uses, see Cowboy (disambiguation). ... Australian Stockmans Hall of Fame ( a museum in Longreach, Queensland, Australia ) A stockman is the name given to a person who looks after the livestock on a station. ... Calf roping is a rodeo event that features a calf and a mounted cowboy. ... Branding irons Livestock branding in the American west has evolved into a complex marking system still in use today. ... This article is about a type of land use and method of raising livestock. ...

Bronco branding is an old method of catching cattle on top end cattle stations for branding in Australia. A heavy horse, usually with some draught horse bloodlines and typically fitted with a horse collar, is used to rope the selected calf. The calf is then pulled up to several panels and a post constructed for the purpose in the centre of the yard to be branded there. With the advent of portable yards this method of branding has been mostly phased out on stations. However there are now quite a few bronco branding competitions at rodeos and campdrafting days etc. Two pairs of Shire horses and a pair of Suffolk Punches A draft horse, draught horse, or harness horse is a large, strong horse bred for heavy work rather than speed. ... Two horse collars A horse collar is a device used to distribute load around a horses neck, for pulling a wagon or plow. ... Campdrafting is an unique Australian Western riding Exhibition sport involving horse and riders working cattle. ...

Some ranches still heat branding irons in a wood or coal fire, others use an electric branding iron or electric sources to heat a traditional iron. Gas fired branding iron heaters are very popular in Australia as iron temperatures can be regulated and there is not the heat of a nearby fire. Regardless of heating method, the iron is only applied for the amount of time needed to remove all hair and create a permanent mark. Branding irons are applied for a longer period of time to cattle than to horses, due to the differing thickness of the skin. If a brand is applied too long, it can damage the skin too deeply, thus requiring treatment for potential infection and longer-term healing. Stock that are wet when branded may result in the smudging of the brand.

Horses may also be branded on their hooves^[3], but this is not a permanent mark and needs to be re-done about every six months. Merino rams are sometimes firebranded on their horns for permanent individual identification. Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... The horse hoof is the distal phalanx of the III digit of the four limbs of Equus species, and it is covered by complex horny structures. ... This article is about the breed of sheep. ...

Freeze branding

A white marking on the crest of a horse's neck created by freeze branding, a form of marking for identification that is nearly painless.

In contrast to traditional hot-iron branding, freeze branding uses a branding iron that has been chilled with a coolant such as dry ice or liquid nitrogen. Rather than burning a scar into the animal, a freeze brand damages the pigment-producing hair cells, causing the animal's hair to grow white where the brand has been applied. To apply a freeze brand, the hair coat of the animal is shaved so that the bare skin is exposed, then the frozen iron is applied to the bare area for a period of time that varies with both the species of animal and the color of its hair coat: Shorter times are used on dark-colored animals, simply causing the hair follicles to lose all color and regrow as white hairs. Longer times are needed on animals with white hair coats, as the brand is applied long enough to permanently stop the hair from growing in the branded area and only skin remains. A tank of liquid nitrogen, used to supply a cryogenic freezer (for storing laboratory samples at a temperature of about -150 Celsius). ...

Freeze brands cause less damage to the animal's hide than hot iron brands, are less painful, and can be more visible. Horses are frequently freeze-branded. At this time, hogs cannot be successfully freeze branded as their hair pigment cells are better protected. Also, freeze branding is slower, more expensive, less predictable (more care is required in application to assure desired results), and in some places does not constitute a legal brand on cattle.^[4] When an animal grows a long hair coat, the freeze brand is still visible, but its details are not always clear. Thus, is it sometimes necessary to shave or closely trim the hair so that a sharper image of a freeze brand can be viewed. Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ...

Symbols and terminology in branding

Branding irons

Most brands in the United States are capital letters, numerals, other symbols (such as a slash, circle, half circle, cross, and bar), and combinations thereof. Brands of this type have a specialized language for "calling" the brand. Some owners prefer to use simple pictures; these brands are called using a short description of the picture (e.g., "rising sun"). Brands are called left to right, top to bottom, and outside in.^[5] Branding irons-Dutch K, c, and k. ... Branding irons-Dutch K, c, and k. ... Majuscules or capital letters (in the Roman alphabet: A, B, C, ...) are one type of case in a writing system. ... A numeral is a symbol or group of symbols that represents a number. ... For images in Wikipedia, see Wikipedia:Images. ...

Letters and numerals can appear upright, reversed, or turned 90 degrees so that the character appears to be lying down or lazy. Upright symbols are called normally, reversed symbols are called with the word crazy before the name of the symbol (e.g. "Crazy K"), and symbols turned 90 degrees are called lazy (e.g., "lazy 5"). A letter that starts and ends with a long serif or horizontal line is called "flying". A letter set on top of a quarter circle is "rocking." There can also be certain combinations such as with two lines (e.g. "double flying" then the letter). Combinations of symbols can be made with each symbol distinct, or they may be connected with symbols touching, ( ), combined (symbols are partially overlaid, ), or hanging (symbols are touching, but arranged top to bottom). Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... In typography, serifs are non-structural details on the ends of some of the strokes that make up letters and symbols. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ...

See also

• Livestock brand registration
• Livestock brand inspection
• Squeeze chute
• Branding iron
• Tattoo
• Ranch
• Horse markings

Branding irons Livestock branding in the American west has evolved into a complex marking system still in use today. ... For other uses, see Tattoo (disambiguation). ... This article is about a type of land use and method of raising livestock. ... These young horses, though all the same color, exhibit uniquely different markings, which can be used to identify individual horses Note: This article is about markings on any type or color of horse and does not discuss horse coat colors generally. ...

References