branding calves ?

[Buffalow Red]

if this is in the wrong place sorry please move
i bought 4 heffer charlay calves. been out off the cow buissnes for 30+ years . 
my first thought was to brand them. on way home went by the vets to get shots  & he sayed no not to brand no one does that any more.
well they broke out of fence & had to find them mixed in with neabors hered of charlays. i was a wishing i could have just looked for a brand instead of reading an ear tag #
so do any of yall run cows ?
do you brand ? i know id have to regester brand with state
i tryed to get info on my ancesters brand but no luck yet

[GunClick Rick]

Chip them or freeze brand,i know the parks freeze brand thier pack horses or used to,lasts longer  or is permanent and not as painful,sort of like gettin a sunspot burned off your arm from the doc.

[Shotgun Franklin]

Freeze brand them and it won't damage the hide as much. I haven't branded a calf in a couple of years but I know that at that time a 'clean' hide was worth more. You might also use a cheek or neck brand.
Ok, now having said this, if you have a very old/historic brand then individual leathersmiths will often want that hide. Or at least around here. Imagine having a pair of Chaps with the running W , YO or XIT in the leather.

[boot strap jack]

did not brand, ran a different color tag than neighbors and notched right ear a special way. The notched ear saved a couple of my calves from less than honest neighbor, after tags disappeared. Brand would have been easier in long run.
BSJ

[Deadeye Dick]

Quite a few ranchers in Oregon brand. Others use ear tags.
Deadeye Dick

[Ranch 13]

 Hot Iron brand , the original and only unmistakable point of origin designation. ;