While they require longer lengths of time to heat, are inconsistent in temperature and all around inferior to more advanced forms of branding, they are inexpensive to produce and purchase. The traditional fire-heated method is still in use today.

Drovers or cowboys could then separate the cattle at roundup time for driving to market.īranding Irons come in a variety of styles, designed primarily by their method of heating. The unique brand meant that cattle owned by multiple owners could then graze freely together on the commons or open range. After the branding iron turned red-hot, the cowhand pressed the branding iron against the hide of the cow.

The branding iron consisted of an iron rod with a simple symbol or mark which was heated in a fire. The Spanish system evolved from the south with the vaquero tradition in what today is the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. In the Americas these European systems continued with English tradition being used in the New England Colonies and spread outwards with the western expansion of the U.S. With colonialism, many cattle branding traditions and techniques were spread via the Spanish Empire to South America and to countries of the British Empire including the Americas, Australasia & South Africa where distinct sets of traditions and techniques developed respectively. The practice was widespread in most European nations with large cattle grazing regions, including Spain. In England, the rights of common including the common pasture system meant that cattle could be grazed on certain land with commoner's rights and the cattle were branded to show ownership, often with the commoner's or Lord of the manor's mark. By the European Middle Ages it commonly identified the process of burning a mark into a stock animals with thick hides, such as cattle, so as to identify ownership under animus revertendi. In the English lexicon, the Germanic word ' brand' originally meant anything hot or burning, such as a fire-brand, a burning stick. The process continued throughout the ages, with both Romans and American colonists using the process to brand slaves as well. The act of marking livestock with fire-heated marks to identify ownership begins in ancient times with the ancient Egyptians. The history of branding is very much tied to the history of using animals as a commodity. 1910s.Ī branding iron is used for branding, pressing a heated metal shape against an object or livestock with the intention of leaving an identifying mark. Branding irons from the Grant–Kohrs Ranch, c.

Branding iron marines