Marking manual for hot iron branding, freeze branding and tattooing

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Marking with a hot iron

  1. Use a separate iron for each character of the mark. It is easier, but not compulsory.
  2. Get everything ready before you start marking. Make sure that the sequence of the registered mark is correct according to the certificate of registration. This can be tested on a piece of wood.
  3. Get someone to help you. The helper must bring the animal closer and hold it firmly. It will be easier if you have more than one helper.
  4. Heat the iron well. When the iron becomes an ash-grey colour, it is a sign that it is hot enough. You may test the iron on a piece of wood to see if it is hot enough.
  5. Immobilise the animals with an immobiliser or knee-halter so that they do not kick you. The immobilisation of the voluntary muscles prevents the animal from moving.
  6. Take the fi rst iron and put it against the animal’s skin for three counts. Do not press. Count 1, 2, 3 slowly. Take off the iron. Take the second iron and do the same with the third. The mark is now complete. Clean each iron after use with a steel brush to get rid of the burnt skin and hair.
  7. Use an ice apparatus to cool down the wound or spray cold water onto the animal’s skin to cool it down.
  8. You can also apply wound oil to the wound. Do not wipe it with a cloth and never rub manure on the wound.

Marking with a freeze branding iron

Equipment needed for freeze branding:

  • coolant – dry ice in ethyl, methyl or isopropyl alcohol and liquid nitrogen
  • isolated container for the coolant
  • set of copper or high-quality bronze alloy branding irons
  • set of clippers
  • 95% ethyl or methyl alcohol
  • gloves.
  1. Marking5Get everything ready before you start branding.
  2. Get someone to help you. The helper must bring the animal closer and hold it firmly. If you have a crushing pen, the branding process will be easier.
  3. Immobilise the animals with an immobiliser or knee-halter so that they do not kick you.
  4. Shave off the hair on the spot to be branded.
  5. Freeze the iron by putting it in the liquid nitrogen or in spirits that has been chilled to –40 °C by means of dry ice.
  6. When the irons stop giving off bubbles, they are cold enough to brand letters onto the skin. Shake off the nitrogen or spirits, otherwise the flow-off will also leave a mark on the skin.
  7. Press hard for the following exposure times:
  • animals of six to eight months: 20 to 25 seconds
  • animals of nine to 18 months: 25 to 30 seconds
  • animals over 18 months: 30 to 35 seconds

Marking by means of tattooing

A third method of identification is the tattooing of animals by means of tattoo pliers and ink.

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  1. Get everything ready before you start tattooing.
  2. Get someone to help you. The helper must bring the animal closer and hold it firmly.
  3. Put the characters in the right order and position in the tattoo pliers – according to the certificate of registration.
  4. Clean the ears before the ink is applied – dirt and oil in the ears will prevent the ink from filling the tattoo holes made by the tattoo pliers. Press the tattoo pliers until holes appear on the skin.
  5. Rub the ink into the holes. The tattooing process is now complete.

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Source: Infopak: Identifi cation of animals in terms of the Animal Identification Act (Act 6 of 2002), Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, September 2010.