Patent ID: 7266955

Claim:
A method for freeze branding livestock, comprising: (a) causing refrigerant to flow through a first thermally conductive conduit having exposed, coplanar segments that are (1) arranged in the shape of a set of characters, and (2) included as part of a first plurality of character assemblies supported by a frame; (b) then applying the segments to brand a specimen of livestock; (c) then stopping the flow of refrigerant; (d) then replacing the conduit with a second thermally conductive conduit having exposed, coplanar segments that (1) form a different set of characters, and (2) are included as part of a second plurality of character assemblies supported by the frame; (e) then causing refrigerant to flow through the second conduit; and (f) then applying the segments of the second conduit to brand a second specimen of livestock.