i do believe Montana law says you have to brand doesnt it?
No, you don't have to brand, but you do have to abide by brand laws, meaning you have to get an inspection to move cattle across county lines, sell etc.
We have a couple registered brands. Up until the past few years, we would only brand the heifer calves we planned on keeping as replacements. Recently, we have been leasing a little more pasture further away from home so we are branding everything now.
