What is cold branding?
A small number of people have experimented with cold branding using a 5% dry ice, 95% alcohol solution. "Freeze branding" is uncommon, if not largely unheard of, but many farmers regard it as the best method to brand their cattle, as it has minimal side-effects. The animal is easy to identify, since the result is permanent - any hair reappearing from the brand is pure white.

1. Equipment required

• Insulated container for storage of spirits and dry ice.
• Special cold branding irons - supplied by SA Vet - Pretoria.
• “Clip master" shaver - supplied by Lion Bridge - Pretoria.
• Stopwatch.
• Animal immobiliser.
• Leather gloves. (or welding gloves)
• Methylated spirits or ethyl alcohol.
• Dry ice

2. Procedure

• Put the branding irons in the insulated bin with spirits and dry ice.
• When boiling ceases, the irons are ready to use.
• Shave the animal on the marking area.
• Remove any excess hair and clean the shaved area with a damp spirits cloth for best results.
• Remove the required branding iron from the spirits and press with a firm grip against the shaved skin area for ± 30 seconds.
• The pressure required is 30 kg/m2.
• Place the iron back into the spirits.

3. Guidelines

• Young animals: 25 - 30 seconds.
• Adult animals: 30 - 35 seconds.
• It takes about 1 month for the affected hair to fall out.
• After 3 months the white hair should have grown back.
• Required dry ice quantities: ± 50 kg/100 heads of cattle.

4. Advantages

• Cold branding is permanent, therefore the process is applied once in a life-time only.
• The brand mark does not smudge as easily as with hot branding.
• The animal's skin is not damaged, therefore it remains consistent due to the cold branding altering the pigment under the skin.
• The animal does not experience so much pain compared to hot branding (the rest of the heard remains calm).
• Cold branding are more defined seen from a distance, since the reappearing hair is completely  white.
• Potential cattle theft is minimised, as a hot brand on top of the cold brand does not prevent the hair from continuing to grow out white.

5. Contact details

• Dry Ice International  Tel: +27 (0) 12 803-1150
• SA Vet  Tel: +27 (0) 86 110 2345
• Willie Solomon Tel: +27 (0) 82 789 7722 
• Lion Bridge Tel: +27 (0) 12 322-710