For as long as I can remember working for others and for as long as I've known the in-laws, the only time anything was branded was replacement heifers.  That would cover from about 1973 until now.  helped work a lot of calves my last 2 years of high school and there was never any branding.

Most people around here will have tatoo id now in place of the brand.  My father-in-law registered his brand way back in the 80s and only used it a couple of years.

Looks like a brand without documentation is worthless.  Just think how many calves are sold as stockers and resold as feedeers.  Nobody even cares to see sales slips proving they are your calves.  Ancient custom, hard days, burned hair smell, no whiskey, chief had enough, go home, allahawannie McClintock.