Freeze Branding

[Luna Mesa]

New Mile Stone at Luna Mesa Ranch

 

[Luna Mesa]

I did my first round of freeze branding this fall using liquid nitrogen. Clipped right down to the hide with a #40 blade, wiped with alcohol, and held the iron about 50–60 seconds. The hair fell out after a couple weeks and now it’s starting to come back white. I built a small Igloo cooler setup and added a metal grate in the bottom to keep the iron off the plastic and spread the cold evenly. I run it with a 6-liter nitrogen tank, which is enough for a handful of cattle. The hide never burns or scabs like a hot brand, and the main thing I learned is that close clipping makes all the difference in how sharp the mark turns out.

 

[Puzzled]

New Mile Stone at Luna Mesa Ranch

View attachment 3378

What is the purpose of the chain around the animals girth ? Are freeze brands prone to blotting ?

 

[Luna Mesa]

Lol. Many have asked about that chain. That chain helps my wife hold he gate tight against the cow. She was taking pictures so she was manning the chain.

We will find out on the brand. Mistakes were made lessons were learned. Feedback from various sources has been appreciated.

 

[Puzzled]

Show a picture of the front of the iron

 

[Luna Mesa]

Show a picture of the front of the iron

 

[Puzzled]

Thanks. I have never looked at an iron before that was used for freeze brands. Have seen a few freeze brands,
some are just so/so brands, some are very nice.
Same holds true with the hot iron. Have used multiple hot irons. Everything from using the heated open end of a
tin can, to the little straight bar(make your own design as you go), to the electric irons.

 

[Luna Mesa]

https://lhbrandingirons.com/

 

[Older Whiskey]

I wonder how it would work, to use a hot iron to burn off the hair, then brand with an identical cold. It looks as if the clipping could be time consuming. Maybe a quick hair burn with a hot wouldn't cause a burn enough to scab and the cold would make a nice clear brand.

 

[Luna Mesa]

I wonder how it would work, to use a hot iron to burn off the hair, then brand with an identical cold. It looks as if the clipping could be time consuming. Maybe a quick hair burn with a hot wouldn't cause a burn enough to scab and the cold would make a nice clear brand.

Clipping does not take but a few minutes, then it is important to clean the area with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

 

[Older Whiskey]

Clipping does not take but a few minutes, then it is important to clean the area with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

I think it is the look that bothers me! :D

 

[Faster horses]

Thanks. I have never looked at an iron before that was used for freeze brands. Have seen a few freeze brands,
some are just so/so brands, some are very nice.
Same holds true with the hot iron. Have used multiple hot irons. Everything from using the heated open end of a
tin can, to the little straight bar(make your own design as you go), to the electric irons.

Our brand is a C hanging C. Easy to make with a tin can. (Not that we have ever done that.)

 

[Luna Mesa]

I think it is the look that bothers me! :D

The look of the freeze brand or the clipping? Hair grows back fast. That is why you do it before winter hair growth and in the spring before the summer coat.

 

[Older Whiskey]

The look of the freeze brand or the clipping? Hair grows back fast. That is why you do it before winter hair growth and in the spring before the summer coat.

Just the clipping, but yes, it grows back fast so no issue. Freeze branding sounds as if it has many benefits over the hot iron.

 

[Silver]

Our brand is a C hanging C. Easy to make with a tin can. (Not that we have ever done that.)

My wife and I applied for C hanging C when we started out but we were denied. It was the brand of a long deceased neighbour and I always really liked it. He used it on his horses, placed on the jaw.

 

[webfoot]

Just the clipping, but yes, it grows back fast so no issue. Freeze branding sounds as if it has many benefits over the hot iron.

One of the disadvantages is the amount of time it takes. Yesterday we worked 20 one and done cows (brand, ear tag, 2 vaccinations, and poured) in less time than I would take to do a couple freeze brands.

Some years ago I bought an Angus bull at the sale. He maybe had a small white spot on his side. I received no brand release on him. Three years later he developed a scary attitude. To the sale he went. That white spot had turned into a single letter freeze brand. The brand inspector was going to put a hold on my money. I knew enough details from back at purchase (date, location of sale, and the sellers name) that they were able to look it. I got my money. A hot iron brand would be visible immediately.

 

[Luna Mesa]

I’ve decided to switch to bald freeze branding from now on.

Same setup with liquid nitrogen, just longer contact time so the mark stays hairless instead of white.

I have my combined 3 letter brand and have purchased 3 individual brands that I am going to use for touch up.

I have two steers going to the processor in March that I thought I had a good brand on. You could see the brand very well. Now, that their hair as grown back you cannot see it.

Of the 5 I branded I only have one cow that I can still see the brand. I believe I bald froze her.

I did my Bull even less time per a recommendation from another forum. Time will tell but I am not at all confidant. I did a very good job of clipping and cleaning. The brand was in the liquid nitrogen over 5 minutes. I had my heavy glove on my left hand a pressed the brand down with it.

It has been a learning process and I have several ideas to improve the process come March.

 

[Faster horses]

My wife and I applied for C hanging C when we started out but we were denied. It was the brand of a long deceased neighbour and I always really liked it. He used it on his horses, placed on the jaw.

We were lucky enough to buy this one years ago for $250. It goes on right hip on cattle, and is good on horses. Mr. FH puts it
high on the hip and it's really easy to see when you are horseback. It certainly is a nice clear brand.