Livestock Transport Document Examples & Breed/Brand Identification
Bureau of Livestock Identification
Breeds Of Beef Cattle
Described by color and sometimes by breed (especially if purebred).
"X" used with any color/breed description refers to "crossbred," for example "Red X bred."
The preferred abbreviation appears first.
Whiteface |
Black Whiteface aka Black Baldy |
Abbr: WF |
Abbr: BWF |
 |
 |
Cow & Calf aka Pair |
Cow |
Abbr: Cow & Clf |
Abbr: None or C |
Red |
Red Brockleface aka Red |
Abbr: None or R |
Abbr: Red Broc, R Broc |
 |
 |
Cow & Calf aka Pair |
Cow |
Abbr: Cow & Clf |
Abbr: None or C |
Black Brockleface aka Black Mottleface |
Black |
Abbr: Blk Broc, B Broc |
Abbr: Blk, B |
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 |
Heifer |
Cow |
Abbr: Str, St, S |
Abbr: Cow & Clf |
Brindle |
White |
Abbr: Brin |
Abbr: Wt |
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 |
Steer |
Cow & Calf aka Pair |
Abbr: None or B |
Abbr: None or B |
Longhorn |
Red Roan |
Abbr: L. Horn |
Abbr: R Roan, R Rn |
 |
 |
Bull |
Bull |
Abbr: None or C |
Abbr: None or C |
Blue Roan |
Mexicans or Corriente |
Abbr: B Roan, Bl Rn |
Abbr: Mex, Corr |
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 |
Cow |
Cow |
Abbr: None or C |
Abbr: Str, St, S |
Yellow |
Gray |
Abbr: Yel |
Abbr: None |
 |
 |
Cow |
Steer |
Abbr: None or C |
Abbr: None or B |
Mouse or Smoke |
|
Abbr: None |
|
 |
|
Cow |
|
Abbr: None or B |
Dairy Cattle
Described usually by breed and not by color.
Holstein Black & White |
Holstein Red & White |
Abbr: Hol |
Abbr: R & W Hol |
 |
 |
Heifer |
Cow |
Abbr: Hfr, Hf, H |
Abbr: None or C |
Jersey |
Guernsey |
Abbr: Jer |
Abbr: Guer, Guern |
 |
 |
Calf |
Cow |
Abbr: Clf |
Abbr: None or C |
Ayrshire |
Milking Shorthorn |
Abbr: Ayr |
Abbr: M.S. Horn |
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 |
Cow |
Cow |
Abbr: None or C |
Abbr: None or C |
Brown Swiss |
|
Abbr: B. Swiss |
|
 |
|
Cow |
|
Abbr: None or C |
How To Read Brands
Brands are read from left to right, top to bottom and outside to inside.
Examples:
Left to Right |
Outside to Inside |
Top to Bottom |
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 |
|
O Bar C |
Circle, Inner letter C |
O Bar C |
Letter O, sidebar, letter 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.
Examples:
Letter T, inverted letter T, OR T up T down, OR T standing T on its head.
Locations of Brands
Brands will be written with the brand first, followed by the location where the brand is applied on the animal.
Earmarks & Their Most Common Names
Earmarks may be used in any combination of the above.