Ranch Brands
Written by Julie Ouderkirk
Revised by Nicole Lemler 2012
Revised by Nicole Lemler 2012
Ranch Brands – What are they? Who needs them? It was recognized many years ago, that a system needed to be devised as a way of identifying one chinchilla from another to prevent disputes and preserve friendships. A universal system consisting of a single letter to denote a specific year, plus a numbering system, identifies each chinchilla within a ranch confinement. It enables ranchers to maintain accurate records. But what happens if a chinchilla is taken to a chinchilla show and happens to get out of its cage – or perhaps two energetic animals bounce around or shake their cages causing them both to fall to the floor and dislodge a latch? How can we tell which animal belongs to whom? If you sell an animal, can the buyer know it’s yours?
A ranch brand system was developed to identify a particular ranch. A ranch brand, plus the numbering system, distinguishes each animal from any other throughout the country and your ranch. If your ranch brand is MXYZ and the animal number is N36 (the 36th animal born on the ranch in 2003), there can be no dispute about who happens to be the owner or which animal it is. The MXYZ denotes it is your animal and distinguishes it from any other N36 animal. This is also a good way to preserve lineage. The ranch brand is also a good way to distinguish your animal from someone else’s when animals are purchased by a new owner.
MCBA, Inc. and ECBC have both maintained separate systems over the years even though only one brand is needed per ranch. In the MCBA system you may choose your own 3 letters, 3 numbers, or combination of 3 numbers and letters to be preceded by the letter M. An example would be MJKL, M234, or M2KL, etc. The “M” preceding your 3 choices denotes that the brand is registered through MCBA.
On the brand application you would list the brand you desire and enclose the one-time $5.00 fee for the registration of this brand. If this brand is not duplicated by someone else, you will be issued a certificate showing the brand is registered to you. This will remain yours for as long as you are a rancher.
If you are an MCBA member, you may download an application from our site and mail it to MCBA, Inc., Brenda Walter: 4354 Hwy Y, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
If you have a ranch brand registered through ECBC, NCBC or other national organization, and have not furnished this to the national office, please let Brenda know so that the records may remain as complete as possible. There is no charge for this. You do not need another brand.
A ranch brand system was developed to identify a particular ranch. A ranch brand, plus the numbering system, distinguishes each animal from any other throughout the country and your ranch. If your ranch brand is MXYZ and the animal number is N36 (the 36th animal born on the ranch in 2003), there can be no dispute about who happens to be the owner or which animal it is. The MXYZ denotes it is your animal and distinguishes it from any other N36 animal. This is also a good way to preserve lineage. The ranch brand is also a good way to distinguish your animal from someone else’s when animals are purchased by a new owner.
MCBA, Inc. and ECBC have both maintained separate systems over the years even though only one brand is needed per ranch. In the MCBA system you may choose your own 3 letters, 3 numbers, or combination of 3 numbers and letters to be preceded by the letter M. An example would be MJKL, M234, or M2KL, etc. The “M” preceding your 3 choices denotes that the brand is registered through MCBA.
On the brand application you would list the brand you desire and enclose the one-time $5.00 fee for the registration of this brand. If this brand is not duplicated by someone else, you will be issued a certificate showing the brand is registered to you. This will remain yours for as long as you are a rancher.
If you are an MCBA member, you may download an application from our site and mail it to MCBA, Inc., Brenda Walter: 4354 Hwy Y, Dodgeville, WI 53533.
If you have a ranch brand registered through ECBC, NCBC or other national organization, and have not furnished this to the national office, please let Brenda know so that the records may remain as complete as possible. There is no charge for this. You do not need another brand.
Click here to view the Ranch Brand List past and present.