Many good Western novels have been written over the years involving cattle in one way or another. From good ol’ cattle drives to no account cattle rustlers, and everything in between, cows have always been synonymous with the old West. Back in the day, the life-blood of any western ranch was its cattle and if you had em’ you had better brand em’. Like the title papers to your favorite truck, the brand on a cow is proof of ownership. Ranches were known by their brand and when a cowboy rode for a ranch, he rode for the brand. So you can bet there was a fair amount of pride involved in being associated with a certain brand.
Branding cattle was probably the single most important function on a working cattle ranch in the old west. But branding didn’t start there. No, branding livestock has been carried out for thousands of years. In fact, modern day archaeologists, (have found paintings on Egyptian tombs over four thousand years old that show scenes of cattle being branded.
Branding livestock is still done today. A branded cow, or horse for that matter may be a stockman’s only claim to ownership. It’s not only extremely important, these days it’s required by law, in most places, especially if you have cattle on the open range. That’s right, the law requires ranchers to mark their cattle with a registered brand, using a branding iron.
These days, there is another way to prove ownership of cattle. It’s through the practice of ear notching and wattling. It has, over the years, become what’s known as a customary law that is based on traditional usage. But that’s another topic, for now, we’ll stick with branding.
Identifying brands on cattle is usually quite simple, unless of course the irons are applied carelessly or improperly, then it can be more difficult.
Branding is usually done once a year, in the spring after calving.
And that is exactly when this event took place…months ago. Branding is also a time for friends to gather. We had a bunch of them here to help and enjoyed every bit of their company. We spent all day Friday from sunup til sundown. The women are usually in charge of the meals and enjoy watching their men and taking pictures. The kids run around having fun and do get in on a little action especially if it involves “rocky mountain oysters”! The next day the cowboys load up their horses and head on over to the neighbors to do it all over again.
Branding is a time of year, a little event that takes place, one that we all look forward to every year!
