At its most basic, a cattle brand is composed of a few simple letters and numbers, possibly in combination with a basic shape or symbols like a line, circle, heart, arc, or diamond.

Numbers and initials were most common, but diamonds, crosses, shoes and upside-down trees also are in the logbook. The first entry dated Jan. 26, 1899, is a registration for J.E. Baucum. The last ...

Brand inspection of cattle and horses sold in Nebraska started in 1909. ... The main Treffer Ranch brand is the upside down T over a lazy T that falls to the right.