How long should the irons cool?
The first time the irons are cooled 15 to 20 minutes. Thereafter, the irons should cool until the bubbles rising from them in the liquid are reduced to a minimum. No less than one to two minutes should be allowed between brands with the same iron. Should the animal’s hair be clipped? The hair must be clipped on the area to be branded, preferably with small animal clippers or surgical clippers; however, regular show animal clippers have been less successful. There is now a clipper head available commercially for clipping before freeze branding. This head attaches to the show clippers. The clipper heads can be obtained through supply catalogs and equipment stores. Time required for branding varies with the amount of short hair remaining. The shorter the hair, the less time required. Is liquid applied to the clipped area? Yes. Liquid should be applied after clipping and rubbed off to remove excess loose hair and dirt. A second application of liquid should take place just before the irons
