Brands were Important in Ranching
One of the unique displays at the museum features two large boards with local brands burned on them. The boards were branded in 1976 when Moore County Historical Museum started.
Ranchers brought their branding irons and burned them on the 4' x 8' sheets of board. Below each brand is the name of the owner. Each board has 48 brands.
Ranchers brought their branding irons and burned them on the 4' x 8' sheets of board. Below each brand is the name of the owner. Each board has 48 brands.
The project was started by the Alpha Omicron Lambda chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Sunray. When the museum opened, 68 spaces of the two boards were branded. A branding party was held in the Spring of 1977 to complete the remaining 30 spaces. Cattle owners donated $25 to have their brand on one of the boards. The boards have hung in the museum since the original location opened.
Brands are a way cattlemen mark ownership of cattle, horses and, in the past, oxen. In addition to a unique brand, the placement of the brand on the animal adds to the details of ownership. Brands have been evidence of ownership longer than there has been a Texas.
Some Egyptians inscriptions date as early as 2,000 B.C. when Pharaohs branded their cattle -- and their slaves. Romans placed an F (thief) on the cheeks of convicted robbers.
Galley slaves were branded in France as late as 1828. When Cortez was conquering Mexico, he used branding on the cheeks of Aztec captives who were sold into slavery.
Cattle branding in Texas is an important part of Texas history. Some ranches are better known by their brands than by their ownership. Branding has become universal in the West. Many ranchers are so proud of their brand they wear them on boots, jackets, caps or the vehicles they drive.
The purpose of the brand was not only to mark ownership, but to make it hard for rustlers to change it.
One of the best known is the XIT which belonged to the historic ranch in the Panhandle that, at one time, was the largest ranch in the state. It covered 10 counties from Dallam on the northwest to Hockley County near Lubbock. Another large Texas ranch, the 6666, with headquarters in Gutherie, reached into the Texas Panhandle and is still known by its famous brand.
Texas laws deal with the branding of cattle and date back to the first days of the Republic. The laws are generally simple. The cattle owner designs a brand and registers it in the county where he will use it.
County brand records are kept by each county clerk. The registration states where the brand will be used on the animal --- whether on the left flank, left shoulder, along the side or on the right side in the same places. The design of the brand and the location become part of the registration. Brands must be re-registered every ten years. The first three months of this year, 2022, 271 brands have been registered at the Moore County Clerk's office.
Brands are a way cattlemen mark ownership of cattle, horses and, in the past, oxen. In addition to a unique brand, the placement of the brand on the animal adds to the details of ownership. Brands have been evidence of ownership longer than there has been a Texas.
Some Egyptians inscriptions date as early as 2,000 B.C. when Pharaohs branded their cattle -- and their slaves. Romans placed an F (thief) on the cheeks of convicted robbers.
Galley slaves were branded in France as late as 1828. When Cortez was conquering Mexico, he used branding on the cheeks of Aztec captives who were sold into slavery.
Cattle branding in Texas is an important part of Texas history. Some ranches are better known by their brands than by their ownership. Branding has become universal in the West. Many ranchers are so proud of their brand they wear them on boots, jackets, caps or the vehicles they drive.
The purpose of the brand was not only to mark ownership, but to make it hard for rustlers to change it.
One of the best known is the XIT which belonged to the historic ranch in the Panhandle that, at one time, was the largest ranch in the state. It covered 10 counties from Dallam on the northwest to Hockley County near Lubbock. Another large Texas ranch, the 6666, with headquarters in Gutherie, reached into the Texas Panhandle and is still known by its famous brand.
Texas laws deal with the branding of cattle and date back to the first days of the Republic. The laws are generally simple. The cattle owner designs a brand and registers it in the county where he will use it.
County brand records are kept by each county clerk. The registration states where the brand will be used on the animal --- whether on the left flank, left shoulder, along the side or on the right side in the same places. The design of the brand and the location become part of the registration. Brands must be re-registered every ten years. The first three months of this year, 2022, 271 brands have been registered at the Moore County Clerk's office.