When you think of sentimental family heirlooms, a branding iron may not be front of mind for most people.
But Kylie Graham's brand is just that.
It was registered by her grandfather Monty Atkinson in the 1940s when he was developing the Droughtmaster breed.
She said she was continuing his legacy with her Mungalla Droughtmaster stud and commercial operation at Farnham, Taroom, in southern Queensland.
"I still have the cattle, the same cattle that he was developing back in those days, and we're talking like 80 years ago, with the same brand," she said.
"I'm on the same path following through with his dreams of creating the Droughtmaster breed.
"I think of it the same way as McDonald's. Everyone knows McDonald's by the golden M arches. It's the same sort of application but in a rural setting."
Brands are used to prove ownership of livestock, but only the Northern Territory and Queensland still mandate cattle branding.
There are almost 70,000 three-piece cattle brands registered in the state and almost 14,000 symbol brands.
Queensland government reviews requirements
In Queensland it is difficult to find combinations that are not already registered and available, which has prompted the government review.
"We're not suggesting banning branding in any way, shape, or form," said the state's chief biosecurity officer Malcolm Letts.
He said options included allowing people to opt in or out of branding their cattle.
Mr Letts said there were a lot of unused brands that are on the register due to deaths, the blending of families through marriage, and business mergers.
The department is consulting with Agforce to update the old legislation, Brands Act 1915 — which underpins the brand system — and update the IT technology used with the register.
Agforce cattle president Peter Hall said an annual renewal fee may also be an option to free-up unused brands.
"If you have to pay a registration or renewal fee every year people may opt to hand in those brands and then it'll make more brands [available] for other people to use," he said.
Sentimental value of brands
Mr Hall said the nostalgia people feel for their cattle brand is a complicating factor.
"People feel very strongly about having a brand and having attached themselves … [to] a breed of cattle, or that sort of thing," he said.
Fifth-generation cattle producer Kylie Graham agreed, and said she was in favour of keeping branding mandatory.
"My children will be sixth generation and they are showing every sign that they will carry on and do [what] our forefathers have done," she said.
"To think that brand will be carried on into the future with them and their children is incredible.
"And the ideas, and all the values that go with that, are passed on too.
"I think it would be important to keep that going. It means a lot to people."
Mr Hall said branding was required years ago, before the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for traceability and biosecurity purposes.
Vets recommend moving away from branding
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), the national organisation representing veterinarians, has made a submission that stated animal welfare was potentially compromised when carrying out branding and earmarking for identification.
Dr Cristy Secombe from the AVA said the submission it made was framed on aspirational policies.
"In the current environment we would like to see radiofrequency identification (RFID) as the preferred method of identifying individual animals because branding and earmarking are painful procedures," she said.
"Having said that, the AVA understands that some Queensland producers may prefer to use branding or earmarking as methods of permanent identification.
"It is our opinion this should not be mandatory."
Mr Hall said stock theft remained a concern for producers.
He said about 80 per cent of cases of stock theft were solved by brands on the animals because it was something that could not be removed, like tags.
"It's a brief imprint, it doesn't have to be on the hide long to leave a brand there that's always going to be easily recognisable, he said.
"There's not a great deal of time involved in that. It's a pretty quick process."
