page_title: Livestock branding
section_title: Symbols and terminology
hierarchical_section_title: Livestock branding / Symbols and terminology
caption_attribution_description: Note&#58; For documentary purposes the original description has been retained. Factual corrections and alternative descriptions are encouraged separately from the original description.Brännjärn Hingstdepå, helbild - LRK 24479 Nyckelord: Brännmärkning, Boskap, Branding, Brännjärn, Föremålsbild, Symboler Svenska: Brännjärn med järnstång.Fyra armar.Brännjärnets form;en bruten cirkel med ett A inuti
context_page_description: Livestock branding is a technique for marking livestock so as to identify the owner. Originally, livestock branding only referred to hot branding large stock with a branding iron, though the term now includes alternative techniques. Other forms of livestock identification include freeze branding, inner lip or ear tattoos, earmarking, ear tagging, and radio-frequency identification, tagging with a microchip implant. The semi-permanent paint markings used to identify sheep are called a paint or colour brand. In the American West, branding evolved into a complex marking system still in use today.
context_section_description: Most brands in the United States include capital letters or numerals, often combined with other symbols such as a slash, circle, half circle, cross, or bar. Brands of this type have a specialized language for "calling" the brand. Some owners prefer to use simple pictures; these brands are called using a short description of the picture (e.g., "rising sun"). Reading a brand aloud is referred to as “calling the brand“. Brands are called from left to right, top to bottom, and when one character encloses another, from outside to inside. Reading of complex brands and picture brands depends at times upon the owner's interpretation, may vary depending upon location, and it may require an expert to identify some of the more complex marks.
  In general, the following usage of the term "symbol" usually means a capital letter.  Uncapitialized letters are not used. Brands are usually “read” top to bottom and left to right. There are regional variations in how brands are read, and deference is given to the terminology preferred by the owner of the brand. Terms used include:
  "Bar": a short horizontal line. For example, a short horizontal line over an M or before an M would be read as "Bar M". Similarly, a short horizontal line under an M or after an M would be read as "M Bar". The bar can also be through the middle of the symbol and would be read as "Bar M".
  "Rail" is alternative terminology to "bar" in some areas referencing a long horizontal line. For example, a long horizontal line over a M or before an M would be read as "Rail M". Similarly, a long horizontal line under a M or after a M would be read as "M Rail".
  "Box": a symbol within a square or rectangle or a square or rectangle by itself. A box with a P inside of it would be read as "Box P".
  "Circle": a symbol within a circle, or a circle by itself. A circle with a C inside of it would be read as "Circle C".
  "Half Circle or Quarter Circle": a half or quarter circle above or below a symbol, but not touching the symbol. A K with a half circle above it, open side facing up, would be read as "Half Circle K". A K with a half circle below it, open side facing down, would be read as "K Half Circle". See Rocking below if the circle touches the symbol.
  "Crazy": An upside down symbol. An upside down R would be read as "Crazy R".
  "Cross": a plus sign. +
  "Diamond": a symbol within a four sided box, the box tilted 45 degrees or a four sided box tilted 45 degrees by itself. The box sides are of equal length, and the box can be square or taller in height than in width, or greater in width than in height.  A rafter can also be read as a "Half Diamond".
  "Flying": a symbol that starts and ends with a short serif or short horizontal line attached before the left side of the top of the symbol and attached after the right side of the top of the symbol, extending to the right of the symbol.
  "Lazy": Symbols turned 90 degrees. A symbol turned 90 degrees, lying on its face (or right hand side) can be read as "Lazy Down" or "Lazy Right". Similarly, a symbol turned 90 degrees, lying on its back (or left hand side) can be read as "Lazy Up" or "Lazy Left".  could be read as "Lazy 5" or "Lazy Up 5" or Lazy Left 5".
  "Over": a symbol over and above another symbol, but not touching the other symbol. An H above a P would be read as "H Over P".
  "Rafter or Half-diamond": Two slashes joined at the top. ∧ An R with two slashes joined at the top would be read as "Rafter R"
  "Reverse": A reversed symbol.  would be read as "Reverse K". Reverse is sometimes called "Back" (i.e. a backwards C would be read as "Back C").
  "Crazy Reverse": An upside down, reversed symbol. An upside down, reversed R would be read as "Crazy Reverse R"
  “Running”: a letter with a curving flare attached to the right side of the top of the letter, extending to the right, with the symbol sometimes also leaning to the right like an italic letter.
  "Slash": A forward or reverse slash. / \ .
  "Tumbling": a symbol tipped to the right about 45 degrees.
  "Walking": a symbol with a short horizontal line attached to the bottom of the symbol, extending to the r
caption: Branding iron from Swedish stallion depot.
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