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Cattle Branding

Cattle Branding: The practice of branding horses and cattle was brought to North America in the 16th century by the Spanish conqueror Hernán Cortés. Branding initially involved the searing of a cows flesh with a hot iron to produce a scar with an easily recognizable pattern for identification or other purposes. Today branding is more often done with chemicals, tattooing, paint, tagging, or ear-notching. Used primarily as a means of identification and proof of ownership, branding is also performed to keep records on quality. In many places throughout the United States and Canada, registration of brands is required by law, and altering a brand is a criminal offense.

Learn All about branding, on the Alberta Agriculture website. For more on branding, check out the Government of Saskatchewan website!

Round-up

Round-up