A New Cattle Brand for Jagger
Here at the farm, we care deeply about the animals we raise as they’re part of our story, our work, and our family legacy. This week, we’re doing something special that ties all of those pieces together: we’re sending in an application for Jagger, to register his very own cattle brand.
You might be wondering: what exactly is a cattle brand, and why does it matter?
I know before I got into farming, outside seeing them in movies, I had little understanding of the point of a cattle brand.
What Is a Cattle Brand?
For centuries, ranchers around the world have used brands as a permanent way to identify livestock… think of it like a ranch’s signature. Each brand is unique and registered, so no two ranchers in a province can have the same design.
In British Columbia, cattle brands are legally recognized, being regulated and recorded by the provincial government to prevent disputes and to protect livestock ownership. If a cow ever strays from the herd, the brand is the proof of who it belongs to.
And, it’s an important tool when trying to recover stolen cattle, a situation called cattle rustling. We might like to think this is an uncommon occurrence but it’s been something we’ve dealt with.
Back about 7 years ago, police arrived on our doorstep because a neighbour reported their fence was cut and turns out rustlers had cut through three fences in an attempt to steal our animals with the plan to cut them through multiple neighbouring properties here in Langley to load them into a waiting livestock trailer in the middle of the night. Thankfully they didn’t succeed but since these animals are worth thousands of dollars each it can be tempting for some people to attempt it.
The Rules in BC
Registering a brand isn’t as simple as sketching out a symbol and calling it your own. In BC, each brand must be:
Unique – no two brands can look alike.
Registered – brands are legally recorded with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Placed correctly – brands must be applied in approved spots on the animal’s body so they can be read clearly.
Brands aren’t just for cattle, they can also be registered for horses and bison. And they don’t expire, once a brand is registered, it’s yours until you choose to transfer or release it.
Why It Matters to Families
While brands are practical, they also carry something much deeper: legacy. In ranching families, brands are often passed down through generations and become a symbol of identity, pride, and connection to the land and the animals raised on it.
For Jay and me, our Central Park Farms brand represents our journey together, years of hard work, growth, and community. One day, Jagger will inherit that, but in the meantime, he’s taking an exciting step by registering his own brand that he’ll use on cattle he raises, and one that will grow with him as he builds his own story in agriculture.
Why This Moment Feels Special
We often talk about legacy in farming — how what we build today creates a foundation for the next generation. Watching Jagger apply for his brand is a reminder that this work isn’t just about farming, it’s about roots, responsibility, and carrying something forward.
Someday, when people see Jagger’s brand, they’ll know those cattle were raised with the same kind of care we’ve built our whole farm around.