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What type of branding equipment do you use?

Were set up to process out cattle thru the barn. We have a Hi Hog handling system leading to a Stampede Steel hydralic chute. Also coming off the tub is a Calf Roper calf table. Two of us have branded 400 calves last spring. We us electric branding irons. Anything else I can tell you?
 
EJ said:
Depending where we`re set up. Propane or electric with a small generator.
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Kind of the same here- altho I prefer the hot iron with propane over the electric iron with my brand (laid over -B connected) - which I make into a 2 iron brand with the irons and get a prettier brand and less chance of blotting than the electric....Use the electric a lot if I've got only a few to do or a couple bulls or something and don't want to fire up the torch...
 
Does anyone freeze brand at all? The reason I'm asking is that I have two standardbred mares here, boy can you ever see those numbers from a zillion miles away.

I was kind of thinking that I would like a propane set-up but after seeing these freeze brands kinda got my curiousity going.
 
Judith said:
Does anyone freeze brand at all? The reason I'm asking is that I have two standardbred mares here, boy can you ever see those numbers from a zillion miles away.

I was kind of thinking that I would like a propane set-up but after seeing these freeze brands kinda got my curiousity going.
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Montana and several other states don't recognize freeze brands as a legal proof of ownership altho on horses they do include it on the brand inspection as a form of marking the same as they do 4 white socks, bald face, star, etc.....

Don't know what your rules up north are....
 
We freeze branded the colts this spring. I don't know if we are going to get good brands or not. Fussyier than a hot iron brand. Freeze brands are legal only on horse here.
 
The majority of calves we still rope and drag to the fire. They are wrestled with the rope and tail method and a brand is slapped on with a hot iron.

The late calves we use what some called hmmm i'm not sure it's a yoke device that one man puts on the calfs neck as they go buy and then the roper holds the feet. Works well when there isn't a lot of help.

Cows that are bought in town or calves just when there is a few sometimes we use an electric branding iron when there aren't many head to do.
 
Judith; Freeze branding works beautiul on horses where you are only doing several at a time and take your time to do a proper job; on cattle you have to be prepared to take extra time and be really fussy on how you do the job! Works much better on blacks than any others; hot irons arre still the easiest. BTW when are you going to make the big move!!! We're running low on people over here..............no brands recquired!
 
running low on people huh! Is there something I should know? :) Is there some kind of hazing I should expect when I arrive. My dad really wants me in the Haywarden area. I keep telling him that I can't find it on the map. (I can, I just love to tease him about his hometown)

I kinda figured freeze branding would be fussier. More expensive too I would imagine. Lord knows you don't want to be wrassling a calf for an hour to try to get that perfect brand. Guess I'll stick to the ole hot iron. I'm still waiting for my brand application thingy to get sent to me. Gov sure can drag it's feet on things.


I'll be heading your way the moment I find property to lease up there. I don't want to buy anything for bit. That way I can drive around and see where I want to settle perm. I had a couple offers but they fell through when they found out I would'nt be bringing a man unit with me. Kinda ticked me off. My ex would have been a hazard on a ranch. Not really the get dirty kind of guy. The boys might be able to out muscle me but I more than make up for it with creative inventions and tons of laughter! The work gets done just as fast, just differently. be patient grasshopper! Really chomping at the bit though :)
 
Judith; Tell dad that the "quality folks" that stuck it out were on the other side of the river.lol :lol: :lol: As for moving you'd better do it quick; land is cheap and the rest of the world is cluing in fast; real estate is starting to move; BTW being a single white female (politically incorrect) is still a virtue out here! Better make your move!!!!!!
 
Two posts and your already trying to marry me off :) Goodness me! :) LOL!!! That's it, I'm heading to Manitoba now. I hear there are no single people there at all :) Nope no more boys for a bit for this little blue duck! The only part of my plan that I havent figured out yet is how I am going to open pickle jars! Guess I'll have to take them over to my neighbors. :)
 
We use a wood fire here and brand for herd I.D. we freeze brand all our heifers we keep with their own personel number which matches their ear tag and bangs tag numbers.
 
Where I grew up (and Dad had a big, stout wrassler in me :? ) he'd rope them, I'd flank and tie them, then he'd do all the fun stuff.......used a wood fire and runnin irons. I know, not exactly legal, but it worked, cause some got his brand, and some got my brand, which is now Al's brand.......

In later years, Dad invested in a calf table, cause of his bad back, and I think that thing was harder on his back than doing it the old fashioned way.......and a lot harder on my shins, them little buggers can kick the snot outta ya, when you're trying to load em in that contraption! :shock:

Now, they rope and drag them, sometimes use the "forks", sometimes just flank and hold em......hardly ever tie them here. Still use the runnin irons, though.......sometimes I get to brand, sometimes rope, other times (my favorite job) I get to use the bander and vaccinate. :twisted:
 
I still have visions of the poor dude getting booted in the nards. He put the iron on a horse in stocks and the horse cow kicked him hard!!!! Kinda put me off of the iron and heat. Fortunately I don't have those types of parts to worry about or I may just hire some toughies to brand for me in the spring.... Who knows. Thanks to all who have responded. I love this forum!
 

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