Multiple Iron Holder for Freeze Branding

Abstract

Three hundred 450-lb Hereford steers were numerically freeze-branded on the right hip with a multiple iron holder. Time required to apply three-number brands was reduced from 150 seconds when irons were individually applied to 40 seconds when the multiple iron holder was used. Seventy-seven percent of the animals had legible brands eight months after branding. An additional 10% of the brands were marginal in legibility and the remaining 13% could not be readily identified.