Cattle branding: How to get it right everytime | WestMac Media

By Chaka Mumba 

If branding is carried out poorly, it can lead to infection, muscle damage, and brands that are difficult to read. 

Branding discourages stock theft and makes it easier for police to trace the rightful owners when animals are recovered. But to make branding work you need to follow certain guidelines. The most important of these are; buy well made branding irons, immobilise your animals securely during branding, make sure the branding fire is at the right temperature, and make sure that the person doing the branding is properly trained for the job. Failing to do this can result in unnecessary suffering for the animal. 

THE BRANDING IRONS: 

Branding irons can be bought from a farmers co-op store. They can be one of two types: each brand letter/ number can be on a single iron, or all the letters/ numbers can be on one iron. The latter is usually custom made and you therefore need to ensure that the letters/ numbers are level with one another. 

HEATING THE BRANDING IRONS: 

You can either have a special container made that retains heat from the coals or you can dig a hole about 1m long and 5cm wide to make the fire in it. Lay irons on red hot coals, not in the flames, as this may make the iron too hot. The colour of the iron will tell you when to remove it. If it's still black, it's not hot enough, if it's ash grey, it's at the right temperature, if glows red, it's too hot. Be very careful not to burn yourself when picking up the iron!!! 

KEEP THE ANIMAL STILL, AND BRAND NEATLY: 

The preffered place to brand is high on the upper hind leg/ hip area. Keep the animal as immobile as possible, using a head clamp fitted firmly into a narrow cattle race or crush about 80cm wide. 

If you don't have a neck clamp and the animal has horns,fit a rope to the horns and secure it to the poles that form the crush; never place ropes around the neck as this can result in suffocation. Take the branding iron from the hot coals and apply it for three to five seconds until the hair is removed and a clear brown mark is left in the hide. 

If using individual irons, ensure that spacing between the letters is even, as per the relevant laws. Never brand over an existing brand, as the new brand will be difficult to read in future. Rather brand next to, above or below the old brand. 

OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER: 

Very hairy cattle may need to be shaved on the branding area beforehand. In addition: 

1. Do not brand wet cattle, the branding iron will loose heat rapidly, and the brand may therefore not be clearly visible afterwards. 

2. Do not brand sickly or very thin animals, as the stress of branding May worsen their condition. 

3. If a brand has penetrated to deeply causing a wound, treat the animal with a healing sprayto avoid infection. 

4. Always find out important information on the local laws governing the marking of livestock in your relevant country.