livestock branding
Hot iron identification
Livestock branding is the practice of marking animals—typically cattle or horses—with a distinctive symbol to indicate ownership.
The brand is usually burned into the hide with a hot iron, though freeze branding and ear tags serve similar purposes.
Brands are registered to prevent theft and disputes: The ranch's brand was three interlocking circles.
The practice dates to ancient times and remains common in ranching regions.
- theft preventionSafeguards against stealing
- cattle drivesLong-distance livestock relocation
- open rangeUnfenced public grazing land
- trail bossCattle drive commander
- cattle ranchBovine breeding enterprise
calf roping · cowboy culture · indigenous practices · legal compliance · hot iron · insurance claims · fire pit · burning smell · folklore stories · gloves · rustling
- farm traditionsbarn raising, barn dances, harvest festival, county fairs, farmers markets
- Gauchogaucho, ponchos, mate, yerba mate, asado
livestock brandingear tagging
Affixing ID markers to animals
microchipping · tattooing · facial recognition · collar tags
livestock, lives, living, lived, lively, livelihood, stock, stocks, stocked