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General Information -
Branding today has become the most effective and economical way to
identify livestock. Brands are an excellent way to determine ownership
of cattle on the range, at the marketplace, or within the herd. Some
breed registries require branding as a means to identify livestock. Most
states require you to register any brand used on livestock. Be sure to
contact your state agency and/or your breeds registry for regulations,
proper placement, and availability of the brand you have chosen.
Types of Branding - The three
basic types of branding used today are freeze, electric, and the old
fashion way of fire branding. Freeze branding uses a
technique of liquid nitrogen or dry ice to produce an extreme cold iron.
This will kill the cells which produce pigmentation in the hair thus
resulting in a white or colorless hair at the branding site.
Click here to see FAQ on freeze
branding.
Electric branding is done in the same way
that fire branding is except your heat source requires a 110 volt power
source. However electric branding is safer and quicker. An electric iron
can provide branding temperature heat in 90 seconds with an application
time of 3-5 seconds.
Fire branding requires fire heated irons using a source of
heat from usually butane, charcoal, or wood. Butane heat is the most
popular as it is easily controlled and convenient. Irons should be
heated to an ash gray color, irons that are too black will be too cold
and irons that are red will be too hot and burn to deeply. An
approximate time of application is 3 to 5 seconds depending on the age
and hair cover. Cattle with thick longer hair should be clipped before
hand.
Tips on Hot Branding -
1)
Choose a branding iron made of iron, steel, stainless
steel, or rust resistant copper alloy.
2) Calves = 4" size of iron,
Yearlings to mature cattle = 5" size. The face of the iron should be a
thickness of 3/8" to 1/2".
3)
Be sure animals are restrained and can't move so the iron doesn't slip.
You don't want an illegible brand.
4)
To avoid blotching there should only be one application of the branding
iron. Do not brand over an existing brand.
5)
Apply the brand using a rocking motion with the brand firmly against the
skin for uniform placement. properly applied it will be the color of
leather when the iron is removed.
6) File any sharp edges off
the branding iron
7) Keep irons clean of rust,
scale, or burnt hair. Do not hang on a post to clean, keeping a bucket
of sand and wire brush at the branding site works well.
8) Irons can be reshaped with
a file or rasp when done. After irons are cleaned thoroughly lightly
oil.
9) Never brand when animals
are damp or wet as it can scald the hide, scar, or leave a sore.
10 Applying an oil to the
brand site after applying the iron can help healing.
Don't Forget .....
The Immobilizer
Branding
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