Out Our Way: Whose brand?

Out our way, we usually have fenced pastures and the stock stay together. But come Labor Day the land around Beaver Creek becomes open range and although herds still tend to stay together, there are now and then some mixing. Come to round up, we check ear tags and brands because not all red Angus belong to Mike and not all Charolais belong to old George. That's why we have brands, ear tags and brand registration.

Sadly, now and then some cattle and other stock don't need a brand or tag to identify what rancher or farmer runs them. Believe it or not, there are lazy farmers and ranchers who...