Freeze branding is a technique in which a supercold branding iron, properly applied to the animal's hide, kills the color pigment producing cells. The result is that white or colorless hair grows at the brand site instead of colored hair. Freeze branding is effective on cattle, horses, and dogs. One advantage of freeze branding is that it produces a readable brand at any time of the year.
How Freeze Branding Works
The skin of an animal contains millions of hairs that make up its coat. Each hair shaft has two follicles below the skin — a color (pigment) producing follicle (CF) and a growth follicle (GF). Under normal circumstances, hair grows as a clear shaft from the GF. On colored animals, pigment is added from the CF, giving the hair its color.
When the intensely cold iron used in freeze branding is placed on the skin for the correct time and at the correct pressure, the cold temperature destroys the CF's at the brand site so they can no longer produce pigment. The hair continues to grow from the GF's, but without pigment — resulting in a uniform white brand.
If the iron is held for too short a time or with insufficient pressure, some hairs grow in colored and some white, giving the brand a streaked appearance. If held too long, the cold destroys the GF's as well and no hair grows at all. On light colored animals, this bald brand is actually desirable because the dark skin with no hair shows up better than a white brand.
Recommended Materials and Equipment
- Holding chute or other restraint device to keep the animal from moving
- Container large enough so the irons can stand upright with the heads submerged in coolant
- Coolant — dry ice and alcohol, or liquid nitrogen
- Electric clipper (surgical blade preferred)
- Grooming brush for cleaning the brand site
- Gloves
- Stopwatch
- Squirt bottle
- Husky solid brass freeze branding irons
- 99.9% alcohol — lower percentages contain water which can cause an ice layer to form during branding and decrease cold penetration through the skin
Brand Selection
Husky freeze branding irons are cast of solid brass — the preferred material for freeze branding due to its superior temperature holding capacity. Standard sizes are 2", 2½", 3", 3½", 4", 5", and 6" in height. Irons are not vented and feature an 18" steel handle for convenient application. Corresponding numbers are stamped on top of the handle so you can choose the correct iron without removing it from the coolant container.
Branding Site Selection
Before branding, carefully select the site on the animal. Each state or county may have its own regulations regarding brand placement. Check with your county clerk, county extension agent, or state brand inspection agency about branding and brand ownership regulations.
When branding on the shoulder, make sure the iron head is not partially resting on a thinner muscle mass over the scapula while the remainder rests on a heavier, deeper muscle mass. Unequal head pressure produces a nonuniform brand. The same issue can occur when branding on the hip — if part of the iron head rests on the rear of the pelvic bone and part on the muscle below.
Coolants
Dry Ice and Alcohol
Methyl, ethyl, or isopropyl alcohol can be used as a refrigerant. It is critical that the alcohol be 99% strength — lower percentages contain water that will turn to slush at the extremely low temperatures required (approximately 160 to 180 degrees below zero). Acetone is another effective refrigerant and has the advantage of being clear so the quantity of dry ice in the container is always visible. Acetone is available from drug companies, welding supply firms, and animal health suppliers.
After extended use, alcohol loses strength by absorbing moisture from the air. Replace alcohol after branding approximately 150 head of livestock. Use caution when handling 99% alcohol — it is extremely flammable.
Liquid Nitrogen
Liquid nitrogen is an excellent coolant, achieving temperatures of approximately 240 to 250 degrees below zero. It is available through artificial insemination organizations and welding supply firms. Use extreme caution when handling liquid nitrogen due to its extremely cold temperature.
Branding Times by Animal
Branding times vary based on the type of metal in the irons, and the age, skin thickness, and color of the animal. Calibrate your freeze branding irons by branding at the recommended times and keeping accurate records of times and results.
| Animal | Coolant | Application Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colt | Liquid Nitrogen | 6–12 seconds |
| Dry Ice & Alcohol | 16–24 seconds | |
| Horse | Liquid Nitrogen | 8–12 seconds |
| Dry Ice & Alcohol | 20–24 seconds | |
| Calf | Liquid Nitrogen | 21–24 seconds |
| Dry Ice & Alcohol | 40–50 seconds | |
| Cow | Liquid Nitrogen | 25–30 seconds |
| Dry Ice & Alcohol | 50–60 seconds |
Branding Procedure
Chill the irons in the desired coolant. Pour enough coolant into the container to cover the heads of the irons by at least 1". The surface of the coolant will appear to boil when the irons are introduced — when this boiling subsides the irons are as cold as the coolant will allow and are ready to use.
Restrain the animal using your preferred method — squeeze chute or calf table for cattle, twitch or stock for horses. Make sure the site to be branded is accessible. If the animal needs to be sedated, consult your veterinarian.
Clean the brand site of any foreign material. Clip the brand site as square as possible, particularly at the bottom, to aid in square placement of the brand. Thoroughly dry the brand site if the animal is sweating or wet from rain or washing.
Squirt room temperature alcohol over the brand site, thoroughly covering the entire shaved area. This removes skin oils and helps transfer cold from the iron head to the skin.
Immediately after the alcohol soak, quickly remove the appropriate iron from the container, align it properly, and firmly press the iron squarely on the brand site. Start the stopwatch as the iron is pressed to the skin. Hold the iron firmly applying 35 to 45 pounds of steady pressure with a slight rocking motion. When the appropriate time has elapsed, immediately remove the iron from the skin.
After branding, immediately return the iron to the coolant container. Allow it to re-cool completely before using it again.
Post-Branding Results Timeline
| Time After Branding | What to Expect |
|---|---|
| 15 seconds | Indented pattern visible in skin |
| 5–10 minutes | Swelling begins, pattern shows larger than finished brand |
| 5 days | Swelling dissipates, brand may not be easily visible |
| 1 month | Top layer of skin begins to shed, scab loosens |
| 2 months | White peach fuzz hair begins growing at brand site |
| 3 months | White hair growth complete |
Precautions
- Dry ice and cold liquid can cause injury — do not allow contact with bare skin
- Acetone and alcohol are flammable — use only in open air or a well-ventilated building
- No smoking — keep all flammable materials away from open flames and electric cattle prods
- Vapors from these liquids are dangerous to the eyes and nasal tissues
- Before ordering a freeze brand as proof of ownership or a registered brand, contact your state brand inspection agency — use of branding irons is subject to laws in each individual state or county
Information gathered with the assistance of Paul Riggs, Southwest Livestock Services, Forney, TX and Doug Householder, Ph.D., Professor and Extension Horse Specialist, The Texas University System. Materials and procedures are based on factual information but are not guaranteed.