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Branding Iron, 1979.
 A branding iron makes a symbol on the side of a cow

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A buckaroo describes "The Division of Labor at Branding"

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Buckaroos Brand Cattle
Branding calves includes giving them a wattle (cutting a piece of skin around the neck), an earmark for identification purposes, and an injection to help ward off certain diseases. At the 96 Ranch, branding can be a three-day task with about 200 calves branded per day. Sometimes cows are dehorned so that they are less likely to get injured in crowded spaces. Some male calves are kept for breeding purposes (bulls), while others are neutered because steers produce better beef than bulls. Branding also gives ranchers the opportunity to give medical treatment to any cow that needs it.
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CREDIT: Fleischhauer, Carl, photographer. "Branding Iron [35mm slide]." Date Recorded 79/10. Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982, Library of Congress.
AUDIO CREDIT: Fleischhauer, Carl and William A. Wilson, interviewers; Stewart, Leslie J., narrator. "The Division of Labor at Branding." Buckaroos in Paradise: Ranching Culture in Northern Nevada, 1945-1982, Library of Congress.