Brands on Livestock 37 



old. The earmark, used moslly for cattle, is the most useful 

 mark for quick identification of cattle when they are on the range, 

 being "worked over" in large bunches, or when being inspected 

 as they file rapidly through a chute or gate. Otherwise, the 

 earmark is not as sure a mark of ownership as the brand, for 

 two men on a certain range may use the same earmark for their 

 herds, but with calves which are too young to brand when the 

 herd is turned out on the range, the earmark is a very convenient 

 temporary mark of ownership. 



The number of earmarks is much smaller than the number of 

 brands since they are limited to a much smaller portion of the 

 animal. A brand may be made quite complicated, but an earmark 

 must be simple because an intricate earmark would require too 

 much time to make; would offer greater chances of harm to 

 the animal; and would destroy its usefulness for rapid recog- 

 nition. W. C. Barnes in "Western Grazing Grounds," page 185, 

 illustrates a number of the more common marks. In addition to 

 these marks there are several common ones for Montana de- 

 scribed below. They are illustrated in the 1903 "Montana Stock 

 Growers' Brand Book." 



1. The "slit," as the name implies, is a narrow section cut from 

 the ear, the width varying slightly but usually just enough to 

 prevent the cut from healing. The number of slits in one 

 part of the ear usually does not exceed two, but there may be 

 slits in two dift'erent parts of the same ear. 



2. The "scallop" is made by removing a half-circle section of 

 the ear. This mark may also be used with either edge of the 

 ear or the end. 



3. The "toothpick," called "sharp" by Barnes, is made by re- 

 moving parts of the edges to make the ear sharp pointed. 



4. Combinations of earmarks are also widely used ; for example, 

 the "crop and slit," where the cropped end of the ear is also 

 slitted. 



To describe an earmark completely, it is necessary to specify: 

 (1) The name of the mark, as, bit, slit, crop, or scallop; (3) 

 whether it is a single mark, double, or combination ; (3) on which 

 ear the mark occurs; (4) on what part of the ear it occurs, that 

 is, upper or lower edge, or in the end of the ear. 



Sample reports on earmarks are as follows : Earmark — Double- 

 end-slit, and double-lower-slit in the right ear. Earmark — 



