Branding has been a part of raising livestock for almost as long as people have been doing it. There’s evidence that the ancient Egyptians used branding to identify which animals belonged to whom, and the practice is even mentioned in the Bible. Even in the modern day, when RFID chips make it possible to track individual animals from a distance, ranchers still use brands as a means of identification. This is essential not only to locate animals that stray from the herd, but also as a means of discouraging rustling.

For a long time, the only way to brand an animal was by searing the animal’s hide. However, today there are some alternative cattle branding techniques in addition to the traditional way:

  • Fire: The tried-and-true method used for millennia, this technique involves heating the brand with fire and pressing the hot branding iron onto the animal’s skin. This creates a scar in the shape of the owner’s cattle brand that will last for the rest of the animal’s life.
  • Electric: Some modern branding irons don’t use flame but rather are heated up using electricity. This has the advantage of taking less time to brand each individual animal because the iron stays at the desired temperature for as long as needed without having to be put back into a fire.
  • Freeze: Taking the opposite approach, this method involves cooling the branding iron down well past the freezing point with dry ice or liquid nitrogen. The brand is applied to the animal’s hide as with other types of branding, but it doesn’t burn the skin. Instead, it destroys the pigment inside the animal’s skin, forcing the hair grow in white rather than its natural color. Many ranchers today choose this method because it causes less pain for the animal and helps them stay healthy.

Tools and Equipment Needed

The most important tool for branding livestock is the branding iron itself. This is typically stainless steel formed into letters, numbers and/or other simple shapes. However, ranchers also need to have other equipment depending on which branding method they choose to employ:

  • For fire branding: In addition to the irons, livestock owners should have a burner for heating them. Other essential equipment includes heat-resistant gloves for handling the hot irons, clippers for removing excess hair from the animal’s hide and restraints to keep the animal from bolting when the brand is applied.
  • For electric branding: Extension cords may be necessary depending on how far away you’ll be working from the power outlet. Just as with fire branding, you’ll also need gloves, clippers and restraints.
  • For freeze branding: Dry ice or liquid nitrogen is necessary for freezing the brand before application. However, you’ll also need 99% pure isopropyl alcohol for sterilizing the irons before freezing them as well as a way to restrain the animal. Even though this technique hurts less than branding with fire or electricity, it still isn’t the most comfortable experience. It’s also a good idea to have a stopwatch or timer to make sure you hold the iron on the hide for long enough to make a permanent mark.

Branding Tips and Best Practices

Leaving behind a permanent brand that is easily readable is the key to success. Here are some general tips to help you:

  • Always make sure you apply the brand long enough to mark the hide rather than just burning or freezing away hair.
  • Keep your brand design simple so it can be legible even when there may be blotching or smearing.
  • Make sure animals’ skin is dry before branding to prevent sores and scalding.
  • If another brand already exists, don’t try to brand over it.
  • Don’t leave branding irons unattended to prevent injuries.

LVR Livestock Brands has a wide assortment of custom brands to help you identify your herd. To learn more about what we have to offer, reach out and speak with a representative from our team today.