An important aspect of raising livestock for centuries has been branding, and it remains so today. Traditionally, ranchers heat a branding iron to make the mark, but freeze brands and electric brands have also become options in the past few decades.

Branding provides proof of ownership for cattle owners so they can keep track of their cows when they get mixed with other herds. Numbered branding also helps ranchers identify individual cows and spot them from farther away.

Here are some tips to help you successfully brand your cattle with a crisp, legible mark.

1. Don’t leave the brand on the animal for too long. Timing is everything. At the right temperature, you should only need to press the brand down firmly for three to five seconds. Shorter than this will result in a temporary brand that will disappear when the hair grows back. Longer than this could cause the animal pain and a slow-healing burn wound.  
2. Make sure the brand is hot enough, but not too hot. Along with timing, the temperature of the brand is most critical. You want to heat an iron brand in a fire or propane heater until it turns a grey, ashy color. If it’s still black, it isn’t hot enough to leave a good mark. And if it is glowing red, it will burn through the hide and hurt the animal.
3. Rock the brand slowly back and forth to get an even mark. You want the mark to be as legible and clean as possible, so you need apply the brand evenly across the hide. By slightly altering where the most pressure is applied, you ensure that no one area is seared or under-marked. 
4. Remove the iron if the animal moves. Before applying the brand, the animal should be as secure as possible so it can’t react violently. But, they still might jump or jerk a bit when they feel the brand. If this happens, carefully remove the brand until they settle down, and reapply it in the exact same spot.
5. Don’t brand a wet animal or in the rain. Wet hide doesn’t brand well. It can take longer to brand a wet animal because their hair won’t heat up as quickly. Thoroughly dry an animal off before branding, and if possible, do so inside when the weather is nasty.  
6. Cut the animal’s hair in the branding area. Long, thick hair can be another impediment to achieving a good brand. You will have to hold the brand on longer to get through all the hair, so there is more room for error. It is easiest to quickly clip away the hair on the hip of the cow or calf first rather than trying to brand over it.
7. Clean the branding iron when necessary. If you are branding several animals in one day, you might need to clean the brand off every now and then. This will help you get a clean mark easily, every time.

Since 1926, Domer’s has been fabricating custom cattle brands for ranchers in Florida and around the country. We can help you design a unique brand, or you can choose from our normal stock. Whether you need a traditional iron brand, an electric brand, or a freeze brand, we are the place to go. Contact us today to get started!