Freeze Branding and Marking

Freeze branding/marking is the permanent identification of horses and cattle. It is of great visibility from a distance providing a crisp and clear mark, thus enabling easy identification of cattle and a permanent identifiable, traceable security code for horses and ponies.

Freeze branding/marking is the process of using a super cold iron to alter the colour pigment producing cells, the result is that white or colourless hair instead of coloured hair grows at the brand site. The skin of a horse or cow contains millions of hairs which make up the animals coat.

When freeze branding/marking the intensely cold iron destroys the colour follicles at the brand site so that they no longer produce pigment. The hair continues to grow, the result is that the hair at the brand site contains no colour and appears white. On light coloured animals the bald appearance is desirable, as the bald appearance with no hair shows up better than a white brand.

Custom Freeze Branding and Marking

Custom Branding is a personal service that we offer.

We can brand animals with your own chosen mark or a design made to your specification, for example an emblem or incorporating digits made to your required size.

Our custom branding service is particularly popular with Breed organisations/ societies and studs.

Loss Of Use

Northern Brand offer the Loss Of Use brand. The Loss Of Use brand is a brand incorporating the letter 'L' inside a circle.

Often under certain circumstances where upon an animal has been designated as 'Loss Of Use' and an Insurance Company is required to compensate for this, then the Loss Of Use mark is requested by the Insurance Company.

Northern Brand operate on behalf of all recognised Insurance Companies nationwide.

The Loss Of Use brand is charged as our Custom Branding.

Post Branding Results

Immediately after freeze branding you will see a frozen indentation in the animals skin. Within five minutes the indentation will disappear and swelling will begin. The brand will be readable but the swelling will cause the mark to have two or three times the thickness that the actual finished brand will have. The brand will be swollen for 48 – 72 hours. After the swelling dissipates the brand may not easily be seen. About 20 to 30 days the brand will begin to get flaky and scaly – use creams to keep the skin oily during the scabbing stages to promote hair growth – do not attempt to remove the scab. By the third or fourth week the scab will start to turn loose. Once the scab is gone, white, peach fuzz type hair should appear in about 30 days. Full hair growth will depend upon the time of year the brand is applied. It is strongly advised during the winter months to clip off the hair from the branded area to expose the mark, it is also advisable to apply sunscreen to the site during the summer period until the site has healed.

Time Brand Site
15 Seconds Indented pattern show
5 to 10 minutes Swelled pattern show
5 Days Swelled pattern disappears
1 Month Top layer of skin sheds
2 Months White hair starts growing
3 Months White hair growth complete

If there are any concerns contact Northern Brand immediately for advice and support.

Disclaimer: Horses skin thickness and sensitivity varies according to breed/time of year etc. Although every effort is made to ensure each horse is suitable for marking no responsibility can be accepted for any unexpected or unusual reactions as a result of freeze marking.