CDFA > AHFSS > Livestock Identification > Livestock Transportation Report Writing and Breed/Brand & Document Identification

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Document, Breed & Brand Identification

Beef Breeds of Cattle

Described by Color
Sometimes by Breed (especially purebred)

"X" used with any color/breed description refers to "crossbred," for example "Red X bred."
The preferred abbreviation appears first.

Whiteface Abbr: WF Cow & Calf aka Pair Abbr: Cow & Clf	Black Whiteface aka Black Baldy Abbr: BWF Cow Abbr: None or C
Red Abbr: None or R Heifer Abbr: Hfr, Hf, H	Red Brockleface aka Red Mottleface Abbr: Red Broc, R Broc Cow Abbr: None or C
Black Brockleface aka Black Mottleface Abbr: Blk Broc, B Broc Steer Abbr: Str, St, S	Black Abbr: Blk, B Cow & Calf aka Pair Abbr: Cow & Clf
Brindle Abbr: Brin Bull Abbr: None or B	White Abbr: Wt Bull Abbr: None or B
Longhorn Abbr: L. Horn Cow Abbr: None or C	Red Roan Abbr: R Roan, R Rn Cow Abbr: None or C
Blue Roan Abbr: B Roan, Bl Rn Cow Abbr: None or C	Mexicans or Corriente Abbr: Mex, Corr Steer Abbr: Str, St, S
Yellow Abbr: Yel Cow Abbr: None or C	Gray Abbr: None Bull Abbr: None or B
Mouse or Smoke Abbr: None Cow Abbr: None or C

Dairy Cattle

Described by Breed (usually) Not by color

Holstein Black & White Abbr: Hol Heifer Abbr: Hfr, Hf, H	Holstein Red & White Abbr: R & W Hol Cow Abbr: None or C
Jersey Abbr: Jer Calf Abbr: Clf	Guernsey Abbr: Guer, Guern Cow Abbr: None or C
Ayrshire Abbr: Ayr Cow Abbr: None or C	Milking Shorthorn Abbr: M.S. Horn Cow Abbr: None or C
Brown Swiss Abbr: B. Swiss Cow Abbr: None or C

How to read a brand

Brands are read from left to right, top to bottom and outside to inside.

Examples

Left to Right

O bar C
Letter O, sidebar, letter C

Outside to Inside

Circle, Inner letter C

Top to Bottom

O bar C
Letter O over a bar over letter C

Brands are classified as letters, numbers, characters or a combination of all three.
Depending on who is viewing it, the same brand may acquire different names.

Example

Letter T, inverted letter T, OR T up T down, OR T standing T on its head.

Brand Locations

BRANDS WILL BE WRITTEN WITH THE BRAND FIRST, FOLLOWED BY THE LOCATION THE BRAND IS APPLIED ON THE ANIMAL

Earmarks and their most common names

EARMARKS MAY BE USED IN ANY COMBINATION OF THE ABOVE

Contact us for more information:
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Animal Health and Food Safety Services, Bureau of Livestock Identification
1220 N Street, Room A-130
Sacramento, California 95814
Telephone: (916) 654-0889
Fax: (916) 653-5190
or send an email to the bureau: bliinfo@cdfa.ca.gov