Livestock Branding - Symbols and Terminology in Branding

Symbols and Terminology in Branding

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, and it may require an expert to identify some of the more complex marks.

Terms used are:

• Upright symbols are called normally by the letters, numbers or other symbols involved.
• "Crazy": An upside down symbol. An upside down R would be read as "Crazy R".
• "Reverse": A reversed symbol. would be read as "Reverse K".
• "Crazy Reverse": An upside down, reversed symbol. An upside down, reversed K would be read as "Crazy Reverse K"
• "Lazy": Symbols turned 90 degrees. Also, 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". would be read as "Lazy 5" or "Lazy Up 5" or Lazy Left 5".
• "Tumbling": a symbol tipped about 45 degrees.
• "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 to the right side of the symbol, extending to the right of the symbol.
• "Walking": a symbol with a short horizontal line attached to the bottom of the symbol, extending to the right of the symbol.
• “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.
• "Over": a symbol over above another symbol, but not touching the other symbol. An H above a P would be read as "H Over P".
• "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": 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."
• "Stripe": three or more rails, one above the others.
• "Box": a symbol within a square or rectangle or a square or rectangle by itself.
• "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.
• "Rafter or Half Diamond": a half diamond over or under another symbol, but not touching the other symbol. A K with a half diamond over it, Open side facing the K, can be read as "Rafter K" or "Half Diamond K". A K with a half diamond under it, open side facing K, can be read as "K Rafter" or "K Half Diamond".
• "Circle": a symbol within a circle, or a circle by itself.
• "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".

Combinations of symbols can be made with each symbol distinct, or:

• "Connected" or conjoined, with symbols touching. would be read as "T S connected" or "TS conjoined".
• "Combined or conjoined": symbols are partially overlaid. would be read as "J K Combined".
• "Hanging": a symbol beneath another symbol and touching the other symbol. The hanging nomenclature may be omitted when reading the brand, such as a H with a P below it, with the top of the P touching the bottom of the right hand side of the H would be read as " H Hanging P", or just "H P".
• "Swinging": a symbol beneath a quarter circle, the open side of the quarter circle facing the symbol, with the symbol touching the quarter circle. For example, a H with a quarter circle over it, with the top of the H touching the quarter circle would be read as "Swinging H".
• "Rocking": a symbol above a quarter circle, the open side of the quarter circle facing the symbol, with the bottom of the symbol touching the quarter circle. For example, a H with a quarter circle under it, with the bottom of the H touching the quarter circle, is read as "Rocking H".