A signboard along U.S. Highway 10 near Miles City, Montana shows a collection of Montana cattle brands and defines the word "dogie."

Photographer: F.E. Dunham
Date: Photographed September 1939
Location: Near Miles City, Montana, USA

You might make a note of the "shaving mug" brand; I suspect it is a facsimile of my grandfather's brand called a sugar bowl, in which the 'spoon' descends into the cup at an angle. It was in the first book of brands of Montana.

You can no longer register new figural brands like the "bug." Sad.

Why can't you register figural brands anymore?

Such intricate brands could be an easy target for "cattle rustling" and such????? Well, that's my guess... Do you know Amorette?

Some brands that are too intricate tend to scar over and blotch with the healing process making them virtually unreadable by the brand inspectors. I would guess that is the reason for the restrictions.

I don't know why. I just know that according to the last brand book I consulted, figural brands can only be re-registered but no new ones.

Consequently, they are worth quite a lot if an estate wishes to sell them as they are considered valuable both in historic and in uniqueness - no one else has one like it or close to resembling it. Makes for easier identification when sorting a mixed herd. Ear marking serves a similar purpose.

Just a reminder, 2011 is the year to reregister brands.