When did the practice of branding livestock begin in the U.S.?

When did the practice of branding livestock begin in the U.S.? Joseph Boudreau Tulsa, Oklahoma Branding of livestock dates back to the Egyptians circa 2700 B.C. It spread to Europe in the Middle Ages and was introduced by the Spanish and later Mexican vaqueros in what is today the southwestern United States. The open ranges made it essential for ranchers to have a brand that identified their cows during a roundup where cattle from many ranches were gathered. Ironically, the first brands were