Liz, it depends on the type of brand. The method we use to see which ewes have been covered by which ram wears off, after it's been worn on, so to speak.

Strictly speaking, that's not a brand. A brand is a semi-permanent mark whereas the colour is removeable. It's a bag of dye the ram wears strapped to his chest/stomach so that it rubs on the ewe when he tups her. The dye used to be sold by travelling salesmen who went from farm to farm, making and selling the dyes. After a while, they became permeated with the dye - hence the 'Reddle' or 'Raddle' man of old. Thomas Hardy featured a reddleman in 'The Return of the Native'.

The colour will show up on the ewe's rear and the shepherd will know that she's likely in lamb. Any unmarked ewes will definately not be in lamb and he can separate them or present another ram to them.

Branding an animal is a mark of ownership, but if you want to sell the skin of that animal, it needs to be unmarked. Certainly my great great grandfather's sheep were marked in the ear (photographic evidence circa 1895-6. Photo is of great grandfather aged ll, b1885, tending sheep), all of the animals have an unmarked fleece.

They are in no recognisable pattern other than 'randomly pointing mostly one way'.

LTS