freeze Branding

sandywil90

sandywil90

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ruthin
Hi All,
Looking into freeze branding as a business. Can anyone give me a few pointers on how to get started and what tools/equipment would be best to use? Costs etc..

Thanks all! [emoji202][emoji106]
 
pine_guy

pine_guy

Member
Location
North Cumbria
A strong right arm [emoji123] you need to hold the iron on with pressure, ok for one, but if you are doing it repeatedly, will be hard work. Also you need to be at the right height, so the iron goes on square/flat, which if doing massive tall Holsteins may require a solid step, depending on your height
 
sandywil90

sandywil90

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Ruthin
pine_guy said:
A strong right arm [emoji123] you need to hold the iron on with pressure, ok for one, but if you are doing it repeatedly, will be hard work. Also you need to be at the right height, so the iron goes on square/flat, which if doing massive tall Holsteins may require a solid step, depending on your height
Click to expand...

Thanks for tips. Are you a freeze brander?
 
pine_guy

pine_guy

Member
Location
North Cumbria
sandywil90 said:
Thanks for tips. Are you a freeze brander?
Click to expand...

No I am not, I should have made that clear in my post, sorry. That information was from one of my staff who’s last job was a heards man. I mentioned a poor freezbrand on a bought in animal and he said they had problems with some at the last place he worked and those where his comments.
 
milkloss

milkloss

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
East Sussex
Lots of alcohol! Not to drink but to mix with dry ice when you smash it up in the insulated tray for the brands. Also to dry the animals hide prior to branding.
 
Woolgatherer

Woolgatherer

Member
Location
Angus
I used to freezebrand and most of the above is correct. I used co2 in block form, it lasts well and is easily transported. However, it shouldn't be in the vehicle with you, it's best transported in a trailer, it gives off gas as it degrades which can suffocate you if you breathe it in. It doesn't melt, it evaporates.
Unless you're very short you shouldn't use a step, remember you're going to be standing behind a cow! You may need to move quickly.
The alcohol is meths, you use it on the ice and also to wet the clipped area on the cow.
Timing is everything, leave the irons on too long and you kill the follicles and get a scar instead of a brand, not long enough and you get an incomplete brand.
It's best to have 2 sets of numbers, or it's a pain having to wait for the iron if youre doing number 22 or 222 for example!
A pair of gloves, I used the red rubber ones and cut off the end of the index finger on your dominant hand so that you can feel the brand.
Remember the "ice" doesn't melt so if you get some on your skin it will burn and keep burning until it evaporates. By then it could have gone deep into your tissues so be vigilant and watch out for inquisitive children / farmers! I had numerous try to touch the ice because it was smoking!
 
S

Sandpit Farm

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Derbyshire
I used to do s lot of cows. I used CO2 and meths and it worked well. I’d hang a timer on the back of the crush and time it for 50secs or 2 minutes for white patches or jerseys.
 
Princess Pooper

Princess Pooper

Member
Location
East Mids
Our brander has a clock he hangs where he can see it. He also has 2 sets of brands. We do actually try and only tag replacements to avoid using the same number three times and we minimise the doubles - so we save tags such as 888 for beef calves. We have an initial too, family/farm tradition, freeze brander ordered that especially for us. Adds to the cost but what the hell
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Headless chicken

Headless chicken

Member
Location
West Wales
Princess Pooper said:
Our brander has a clock he hangs where he can see it. He also has 2 sets of brands. We do actually try and only tag replacements to avoid using the same number three times and we minimise the doubles - so we save tags such as 888 for beef calves. We have an initial too, family/farm tradition, freeze brander ordered that especially for us. Adds to the cost but what the hellView attachment 633992
Click to expand...

I had to reread your post as I was taken back as to why your freeze branded was hanging his cock somewhere he could see it :ROFLMAO:
 

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