southernman
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I am planning on starting to brand my cattle and am wanting info as to best times and methods
branding
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Sandhusker
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southernman said:
First thing is to get a good brand - one that doesn't blotch, one iron if you can. Location is important, too. Ribs work best, hips are a pain in the rear. You need different irons for cows than calves (bigger). Around here, calves are branded at about 2 months of age. It works better if you've got a roper and a couple of wrestlers - otherwise you can 'farmer" it and use a table. That's all I've got to say, but I'm a banker by trade. You professional cattlemen can step in now......
kolanuraven
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If you're in the Southeast, as in SE section of the US, why bother as you don't have to?
Soapweed
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kolanuraven said:
Wouldn't it still be best to brand your cattle even if you "don't have to," just for proof of ownership in case someone wanted to "borrow" your cow? If you wear a pair of overshoes to a community Christmas party, it is a good idea to have your brand on your overboots. Then when you get ready to go home, and there are multitudes of similar footwear, there is no doubt which ones are yours. Just a thought.
kolanuraven
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Soapweed said:
No, not an issue here.
Ankony does not brand Angus and the only time we ever branded anything was WAY back in the Brangus days--80's-- when it was required as part of ' inspection', and then it was only freeze branding.
Most people can see across their cow pastures--if they even have a pasture anymore-- to the subdivision that has sprung up next door.
Here, now owing cattle is the ' rare' thing...not the majority anymore. Few people even own trucks, let alone one big enough to pull a trailer.
Soapweed
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kolanuraven said:Soapweed said:
No, not an issue here.
Ankony does not brand Angus and the only time we ever branded anything was WAY back in the Brangus days--80's-- when it was required as part of ' inspection', and then it was only freeze branding.
Most people can see across their cow pastures--if they even have a pasture anymore-- to the subdivision that has sprung up next door.
Here, now owing cattle is the ' rare' thing...not the majority anymore. Few people even own trucks, let alone one big enough to pull a trailer.
But it would be pretty easy to "borrow" someone else's bovine, when that someone was not looking. All the "borrower" would have to do is take the unbranded critter a few miles away, put their own "personalized" eartag in that critter, and presto, they now own a new cow.
Big Muddy rancher
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Soap your forgetting that Kolo doesn't mind "sharing the wealth" :wink:
kolanuraven
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Soapweed said:kolanuraven said:Soapweed said:
No, not an issue here.
Ankony does not brand Angus and the only time we ever branded anything was WAY back in the Brangus days--80's-- when it was required as part of ' inspection', and then it was only freeze branding.
Most people can see across their cow pastures--if they even have a pasture anymore-- to the subdivision that has sprung up next door.
Here, now owing cattle is the ' rare' thing...not the majority anymore. Few people even own trucks, let alone one big enough to pull a trailer.
But it would be pretty easy to "borrow" someone else's bovine, when that someone was not looking. All the "borrower" would have to do is take the unbranded critter a few miles away, put their own "personalized" eartag in that critter, and presto, they now own a new cow.
In theory yes, but believe me....no one here is that ambitious as most cattle ,here people don't take care of what few cattle they have and are so wild that they can't even catch'em, let alone a thief!! :lol: :lol:
Eg: Some heifers showed up in my backyard one day. Full of ' cuckkle burrs' and half starved. I put them in a small lot, food and water aplenty and made a few calls. Nothing. So, I guessed someone would show up in a day or so looking for them.
Finally 3 months later, a man showed up. He was so mad at those heifers I believe if I'd not been there, he'd shot'em on site. He told me had no idea what made them get out as he'd looked at them 4 wks BEFORE they got out. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: I'd had them for 3 months. I told him I'd haul them home for him, 15 miles away!!!!!! They'd come thru the Natl' Forest to me it seems. :shock: :shock: :shock:
Took'em home and felt sooo sorry for those gals
as I was about to do some rustling' on my own as their pasture was just a red clay field with a gooey mess for water. But, I turned them out and had to move on. I offered to buy them for what I had in them for feed and care. He paid me in full, cash ,for my expense but would not hear of letting me have them for the debt. They were comm. scrubs but I'd took them in just cause I felt sorry for them.
. Your world in NE , ranching, and lifestyle ( which I know all too well) could be another planet when compared as to what this area has become now. We've got too many wanna-be's
Soapweed
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Big Muddy rancher said:
You do have a point.
kolanuraven
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Soapweed said:Big Muddy rancher said:
You do have a point.
That's what you think!!
Try loading up one these fat Angus gals of mine and see what I share with you then!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
More like load of buckshot!!! :wink:
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
kolanuraven said:Soapweed said:kolanuraven said:No, not an issue here.
Ankony does not brand Angus and the only time we ever branded anything was WAY back in the Brangus days--80's-- when it was required as part of ' inspection', and then it was only freeze branding.
Most people can see across their cow pastures--if they even have a pasture anymore-- to the subdivision that has sprung up next door.
Here, now owing cattle is the ' rare' thing...not the majority anymore. Few people even own trucks, let alone one big enough to pull a trailer.
But it would be pretty easy to "borrow" someone else's bovine, when that someone was not looking. All the "borrower" would have to do is take the unbranded critter a few miles away, put their own "personalized" eartag in that critter, and presto, they now own a new cow.
In theory yes, but believe me....no one here is that ambitious as most cattle ,here people don't take care of what few cattle they have and are so wild that they can't even catch'em, let alone a thief!! :lol: :lol:
Eg: Some heifers showed up in my backyard one day. Full of ' cuckkle burrs' and half starved. I put them in a small lot, food and water aplenty and made a few calls. Nothing. So, I guessed someone would show up in a day or so looking for them.
Finally 3 months later, a man showed up. He was so mad at those heifers I believe if I'd not been there, he'd shot'em on site. He told me had no idea what made them get out as he'd looked at them 4 wks BEFORE they got out. :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: I'd had them for 3 months. I told him I'd haul them home for him, 15 miles away!!!!!! They'd come thru the Natl' Forest to me it seems. :shock: :shock: :shock:
Took'em home and felt sooo sorry for those gals
But, I turned them out and had to move on. I offered to buy them for what I had in them for feed and care. He paid me in full, cash ,for my expense but would not hear of letting me have them for the debt. They were comm. scrubs but I'd took them in just cause I felt sorry for them.
. Your world in NE , ranching, and lifestyle ( which I know all too well) could be another planet when compared as to what this area has become now. We've got too many wanna-be's
If those Hfrs had a registered brand on them you could have contacted the owner. How do you now he did just hear you had some strays and put on an act to claim them?
Branding in the Southeast: Branding could help one ID his cows in needed but it would only be used after the cows were found and then I can use tattoos. You see, we have no brand inspectors nor is a brand even looked at in the stock yard. Someone can sell a load of branded cattle at the stockyard just as easy as a load of non branded.
We have had some cattle rustling in resent in Alabama and none have been found. I think branding can help but we will also need to start checking brands at the stockyard with the addition of state brand inspectors. It won't ever become law in Alabama since most people that have cattle don't brand or even work their cattle. They put out a little hay in the winter and hire someone to catch calves once or twice a year and wean on the trailer on the way to the stock yard. They don't have a way to brand cattle and don't want to pay to have it done at the stock yard. They run no type of tag or ID of any kind. They just sell 400 pound calves and a few old cows. Most old cows just die on the place and get a bag of lime dumped on them if close to the house.
We have had some cattle rustling in resent in Alabama and none have been found. I think branding can help but we will also need to start checking brands at the stockyard with the addition of state brand inspectors. It won't ever become law in Alabama since most people that have cattle don't brand or even work their cattle. They put out a little hay in the winter and hire someone to catch calves once or twice a year and wean on the trailer on the way to the stock yard. They don't have a way to brand cattle and don't want to pay to have it done at the stock yard. They run no type of tag or ID of any kind. They just sell 400 pound calves and a few old cows. Most old cows just die on the place and get a bag of lime dumped on them if close to the house.
gcreekrch
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alabama said:
Sounds like the 1800's are alive and well down there.
I still maintain.......Trust your neighbors but brand all your calves. :wink:
leanin' H
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Hey Sandhusker, Soap and Gcreeck! I've just had a thought! (I guess thats what it was?) Lets head for Kola's place about 2:00 a.m. with a bunch of empty trailers. Soap can run em' in with cake as chum, Gcreek can pop the clutch and head for the salebarn and i'll cash the check! Sandhusker can act as legal counsel in the event that somebody gets after us! It's foolproof! 
A
Anonymous
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leanin' H said:Hey Sandhusker, Soap and Gcreeck! I've just had a thought! (I guess thats what it was?) Lets head for Kola's place about 2:00 a.m. with a bunch of empty trailers. Soap can run em' in with cake as chum, Gcreek can pop the clutch and head for the salebarn and i'll cash the check! Sandhusker can act as legal counsel in the event that somebody gets after us! It's foolproof!
You guys forget Kola's arsenal- and some time unlady like attitude....I just sent her an e-mail that I wouldn't even dare do if she didn't live 2000+ miles away... :wink: :lol:
Back to the subject:
Brand your cattle. Don't let anybody talk you out of it. We should be trying to talk more people into branding, no matter where you're located.
I think the most important thing in a brand is to keep it simple. If there aren't many people around you that brand, try to be satisfied with a single digit brand - cheaper to make and easier to read.
Like Sandhusker suggested, use a smaller iron on calves. I use a three inch on calves and a four inch on yearlings and I like to place them high on the shoulder.
Check your local/state laws before doing anything, though. You might have to register your brand, so you need to be sure what is available and what the requirements are before you have one made.
Brand your cattle. Don't let anybody talk you out of it. We should be trying to talk more people into branding, no matter where you're located.
I think the most important thing in a brand is to keep it simple. If there aren't many people around you that brand, try to be satisfied with a single digit brand - cheaper to make and easier to read.
Like Sandhusker suggested, use a smaller iron on calves. I use a three inch on calves and a four inch on yearlings and I like to place them high on the shoulder.
Check your local/state laws before doing anything, though. You might have to register your brand, so you need to be sure what is available and what the requirements are before you have one made.
kolanuraven
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leanin' H said:Hey Sandhusker, Soap and Gcreeck! I've just had a thought! (I guess thats what it was?) Lets head for Kola's place about 2:00 a.m. with a bunch of empty trailers. Soap can run em' in with cake as chum, Gcreek can pop the clutch and head for the salebarn and i'll cash the check! Sandhusker can act as legal counsel in the event that somebody gets after us! It's foolproof!
Ohhhhh...please do!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
It would be entertaining---for me---for sure!!! :wink: :wink:
gcreekrch
Well-known member
kolanuraven said:leanin' H said:Hey Sandhusker, Soap and Gcreeck! I've just had a thought! (I guess thats what it was?) Lets head for Kola's place about 2:00 a.m. with a bunch of empty trailers. Soap can run em' in with cake as chum, Gcreek can pop the clutch and head for the salebarn and i'll cash the check! Sandhusker can act as legal counsel in the event that somebody gets after us! It's foolproof!
Ohhhhh...please do!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:
It would be entertaining---for me---for sure!!! :wink: :wink:
We'll bring Jigs along to keep you entertained. :wink:
That might cost us more than the cows are worth.
