Let’s Brand, Ya Reckon?
 | Author:
Denise Thompson, MT43 News AG Correspondent
Denise Thompson |
Denise Thompson
MT43 News AG Correspondent
Spring Has Sprung! Farms and ranches are all a bustle! Locals are planting potatoes and grains, fertilizing crops, harnessing that precious water for the fields, finishing up calving, and working on miles and miles of fence in preparation for turning pairs out on that beautiful, priceless range grass.
Before cattle can go to their mountain pastures, this year’s calf crop must be branded. Branding provides an important identification and proof of ownership. This permanent form of ID helps deter and identify stolen cattle, and serves as legal evidence of ownership, which is especially helpful on large operations and where multiple owners share grazing lands.
Brands assist with tracing lineage, health, and vaccination history and overall record keeping. Furthermore, there is a rich culture and long-standing tradition with branding in the American West. I venture to say, branding is one of the highlights of ranch life, ya reckon!?!
A solid percentage of ranchers use a branding table or chute to brand their calves, as it generally requires less help, can be easier on the calf, and the owner can better regulate the care of each critter. One calf at a time is moved into the chute and secured by a head catch and squeeze. Then the chute/table is rolled, allowing the calf to lay on its side, so it can be branded in the appropriate location. Calves are then branded, frequently vaccinated, given an overall health check, and the boys (or bull calves) may be castrated at this time, as well. These bull calves now become steer calves, and will be unable to reproduce, but will serve as a solid means of revenue for the rancher when he sells them and most of the heifer calves in the fall, or perhaps, decides to finish growing those steers to an ideal weight to butcher and sell to you, his faithful customer.
There are still a number of ranchers, especially those on larger operations, who hold on tight to tradition and speed and savvy cowboys and cowgirls! They have ropers, mounted horseback, rope and drag calves to be branded, vaccinated and castrated. Castration can be done a number of ways, but the traditionalists generally cut the testicles out of the bull calves and serve these cuisine delicacies to their help once the work is done. If you have never eaten Rocky Mountain Oysters or ‘calf fries’ or ‘calf balls’…. well, you are missing out, I reckon!
For the Love of Ag, From the Heart of a Western Woman,
Denise Thompson
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Denise Thompson
Image 1 Caption: Jyler Thompson dragging a calf to the fire, Spring 2025, on Cimmy's (4 year old draft cross) branding debut
Photo Credits: Denise Thompson
Image 2 Caption: Ranch Manager, Conway Bandy, branding a calf, Spring 2025, in SW Montana
Photo Credits: Denise Thompson
Image 3 Caption: Top Notch Branding Help, Circa 2020 (Cousins, Rosin, Myla, Cinch and Stetson)
Photo Credits: Denise Thompson
Image 4 Caption: Sometimes it's hard to find good help!
(Honestly, we have always had the best of help.) Three Sisters (Josie, Jacy and Jess, with her daughter, Blair) branding in the spring of 2020.
Photo Credits: Denise Thompson
