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Three piece brands
Three-piece brands are the foundation for establishing legal ownership of horses and cattle in Queensland. Symbol brands may only be registered in conjunction with three-piece brands. Similarly, cattle earmarks are used as an aid to identification, but only in conjunction with the three-piece brand with which it is registered.
A horse and cattle three-piece brand is registered for use anywhere in Queensland, but initially for use on a property specified by the applicant. Its use elsewhere in the State depends upon the brand not conflicting with brands already in use in that locality.
Brief history
The first brand to be legally registered in Queensland was CA1. It was registered on 1 May 1872 and belonged to the Honourable Louie Hope, of Kilcoy. The first series of 18, 750 brands was called the A Series. It consisted of two block letters and a number all in upright positions. The B Series of brands was introduced on 1 March 1882.
Currently, there are 105, 599 three-piece horse and cattle brands capable of being registered in Queensland. About 70, 000 of these are registered at any given time.
Physical description
The shape, size and composition of all three-piece horse and cattle brands in Queensland are legally defined under the Brands Act 1915. All three-piece brands with a sideways letter must have the sideways letter permanently affixed to another character in the brand.
All characters in a three-piece brand must have:
- A face depth of not less than 30 mm or more than 65 mm (face depth refers to the height of the character).
- The space between the characters of not more than 25 mm.
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- 3 piece brand legal size
Three-piece brand series
The different types of three-piece brands that may be registered are described by series. These series, their description and shape, and the order in which they may be registered are set out in the three-piece horse and cattle brand series table.
Other marks
Crossbranding
Refers to the branding by the current owner of an already branded animal. In the case of two brands, the latest brand takes legal precedence.
Stud and age references
These so-called ´drop numbers´ are sometimes used to indicate the blood line, and identify the year of birth and the number of progeny.
Positions for branding horses and cattle
- The ´off´ refers to the right side and the ´near´ refers to the left side of horses and cattle.
- The first brander, having elected to brand on a particular position, may retain that position or may, if this position is inconvenient, change to any one of the other positions.
- It is not possible to register a specified position for use of a three-piece brand.
- Stud, age or herd book reference numbers may be imprinted by the person first branding an animal in any of the prescribed positions.
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- Horse branding positions
Horses
The first brander on horses may imprint the registered three-piece brand on any of the following positions:
- quarter
- shoulder
- thigh
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- Cattle branding positions
Cattle
The first brander on cattle may imprint the registered three-piece brand or symbol brand on any of the following positions:
- neck
- rump
- shoulder
- thigh
- twist (the upper rear portion of the animal's hind leg between the pin bone and the hock)
Crossbranding
A crossbrand may be imprinted in any of the prescribed positions or imprinted in the same position. If it is imprinted at the same position, it must be imprinted at the same angle and directly beneath the previous brand at a distance of not less than 35 mm or more than 65 mm.
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- Prescribed placement of brands
Placement of brands
Brands may be imprinted either vertically or horizontally in any of the prescribed positions. When branding vertically the brand must remain in its original horizontal format and rotated clockwise to 90 degrees.
Age numerals and stud references
The numerals or references may be imprinted on any of the prescribed positions or below an imprinted brand for both horse and cattle. If it is imprinted below an imprinted brand it must be imprinted at the same angle and directly beneath the previous brand at a distance of not less than 35 mm or more than 65 mm.
