Livestock branding

Livestock branding, in modern usage, refers to any techniques for marking livestock so as to identify the owner. Originally, livestock branding only referred to the practice of burning a mark on livestock using a hot iron, though the term is now also used to refer to other alternative techniques such as freeze branding and RFID tagging. In the American west, it has evolved into a complex marking system still in use today.

History

Originally the word brand 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 animal with a thick hide, such as a cow, so as to identify ownership under animus revertendi. In the American West, a branding iron consisted of an iron rod with a seal-like mark which ranchers heated in a fire. After the branding iron turned red-hot, the rancher pressed the seal-like marker against the hide of the cow. The unique mark meant that the cow could then graze freely among other cattle on the free-range of the American West. Drovers could then separate the cattle at round-up time for driving to market. These customs of the American West evolved from the practices of the vaqueros.

Modern usage

Free-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.

The Branding Iron is the school newspaper of the University of Wyoming.

Freeze branding

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. Freeze brands cause less damage to the animal's hide than hot iron brands, and they are more visible. At this time, hogs cannot be successfully freeze branded as their hair pigment cells are better protected. Also, freeze branding is slower, more expensive, and less predictable (more care is required in application to assure desired results).

Symbols in branding

Most brands in the United States are capital letters, numerals, other characters (such as 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.

"reverse K"), and turned symbols similarly with the word lazy (e.g., Livestock_brand_lazy_5.PNG "lazy 5"). Combinations of symbols can be made in the straightforward manner (left to right), or they may be connected (symbols are touching, Livestock_brand_T_S_connected.PNG), combined (symbols are partially overlaid, Livestock_brand_J_K_combined.PNG), or hanging (symbols are touching, but arranged top to bottom).

Famous branding

Bevo, the Texas Longhorn mascot of the University of Texas at Austin, was branded in large characters with the score ("13-0") of the 1915 football game (which Texas A&M won). A story has circulated that UT students later changed the mark to read "BEVO", but that story has been shown to be false.

Future of branding

With the advent of RFID technology, a suitable alternative to branding may become a reality. RFID tags may offer farmers and ranchers a cheap way to electronically identify and track their livestock herds. RFID will also assist in the tracking of cattle to pinpoint exactly where a diseased animal came from.

External links

Notes

Proud Traditions

Livestock

Brandzeichen | Marquage au fer

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Livestock branding