The Bovine Brands Browser

One of the biggest problems I face when riding across the prairie is identifying the cattle ranching owners of lost steers. Which is when I turn to Ranch Brand Search!

Ranch Brand Search is an interactive map that brings one of the most distinctive traditions of the American West into the digital age. Instead of leafing through dusty brand books or wrestling with outdated state websites, users can explore registered livestock brands from across the United States on one, simple interactive map.

At the heart of the project this map allows you to browse livestock brands geographically. Zoom into a county, valley, or stretch of highway, and you’ll see the registered ranch brands for that area plotted on the landscape. Clicking on a brand reveals detailed information, including the official brand image, owner name, location data, where the brand appears on the animal, and any associated earmarks.

Users can search in multiple ways - by owner name, town, brand description, or even by symbol (such as stars, hearts, or horseshoes). Clicking on a brand reveals detailed information including the official brand image, registration details, and location on the animal where the brand appears.

While the tool is clearly designed with livestock owners and auction yards in mind, it also has appeal for curious map lovers and rural explorers. Anyone who has ever wondered, “Whose cows are those?” can now look up nearby brands with a few taps.

Alongside the map there is also a fun Cattle Brand Creator that allows you to create your own livestock brand by combining symbols, letters and numbers. This tool allowed me to devise the perfect brand for my Walking Heart Ranch.