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Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

To Honor and Protect the Ranching Way of Life

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How to Read a Brand

Brands are read from left to right, from the top down or from the outside to the inside.

If a letter or symbol is made backwards from its normal position, it’s read as a reverse.

Reverse F brand

A letter partially over on its face or back is said to be tumbling.

Tumbling A brand

If a letter lies horizontally on its face or back, it is called lazy.

Lazy 2 brand

Letters with a curving flare at the top and rounded angles are called running.

Running A brand

Adding a dash to the left and right of a letter, at the top, is called a flying letter.

Flying 4 brand

Add legs and it is called a walking letter.

Walking A brand

A letter placed so the bottom touches the quarter circle is said to be rocking. In this instance, the brand would probably be called the anchor.

Rocking H brand

Curves not attached to letters are known as quarter circles or half circles, depending on the arc.

Quarter Circle R brand

Letters or symbols formed together are called connected, except when one is below the other. In that case, the lower symbol is said to be swinging or hanging.

Swinging R brand

In registered brands, owners sometimes omit the words “connected” or “swinging,” thus, it might be read simply Diamond J, rather than Diamond Swinging J.

Diamond J brand

Besides the traditional letter and figure brands, there are marks known as character or picture brands.

Some commonly used picture brands are:

Turtle

Turtle brand

Pitchfork

Pitchfork brand

Rocking Chair

Rocking Chair brand

Key

Key brand

Spade

Spade brand

Ladder

Ladder brand

For more information, please call the law enforcement department of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, 800-242-7820.

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PO BOX 101988
FORT WORTH, TX 76185

1-800-242-7820

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