The Method

Bronco Branding is Australia’s traditional method of branding cattle in the bush. This unique method of branding stock has been practiced on most of the large stations throughout Australia. The originator of the method has been the subject of much debate over the years. In Darrell Lewis’s book “Roping in the history of Broncoing”, he accredits the bushman H. Compton ‘Compie’ Trew as being the originator of the bronco method. It is believed that it was developed around 1905, as an article by Compie Trew in the “Pastoralist Review” in 1905 describes “Bronco Branding”. Also the Late R M Williams stated that “he (Compie) invented a set of Bronco harness with a heavy ring on the shoulder. We made it up for him”

It involved the stockmen mustering the mob and holding them together on the “camp”, an open stretch of land, whilst the catcher, usually the head stockman or an experienced ringer, would ride into the mob and rope a cleanskin (unbranded) calf from his horse.

The catch would be hauled to the bronco ramp or a tree, leg ropes would then be applied and used to secure the beast to the ground. The cleanskin calf would often be a yearling mickey bull or heifer. The calf would be earmarked, branded, and, if male, cut (castrated) and let up - the whole process taking less than a minute.

This method was used on many large remote stations up until the late sixties and the advent of the Morrisey calf cradle. Then holding yards were built to confine the mob instead of the mounted stockmen holding the mob on the “camp”. With the Bronco method, cattle could be mustered and branded in one day without having to be drafted. It eliminated the cost of building large drafting yards or driving cattle long distances. It also meant that the stock remained in the area where they lived and mothering of cows and calves was a lot easier as the calf is released straight back to its mother once branded.

When the calf cradle came into being and the price of labour got too high the use of “open”, or yard, broncoing became virtually obsolete and along with that so did the skills of the Australian stockmen.

The Competition

Bronco Branding was first performed as a competitive sport at Alice Springs in May 1984 and Oodnadatta, SA held its first competition in August 1984. Each team consists of four members, one on horseback (the catcher) with the head and leg ropes being authentic green hide ropes, however in South Australia cotton ropes may be used. The event is run on time and the time starts when the line of the horse crosses the line of the panel and concludes when the last member of the team along with everything they took to the mob side of the panel is back behind the line of the panel.

Once the catcher has caught the beast and pulled it to the ramp, one stockman ropes the back leg and one the front. Then the ropes are attached to the panel or ramp, the head rope released and the beast pulled to the ground. The third stockman then brands (paint is used instead of fire branding) the beast, leg ropes are released and the beast is allowed to re-enter the mob. In the Queensland singles/open event a total of three calves must be caught within 6 minutes and in the team/doubles five calves must be caught within the allotted time of 8 minutes.

There is at least one judge but more commonly two. These judges become the “owner” of the stock and time penalties are given to competitors that “do the wrong thing”.

The Queensland and South Australian associations have rules administering these penalities such as mistreating the beast, leg ropes not below the knee or hock (could break a leg), ropes tied to the panel too high, rough handling, incorrect brand and dismounting in any form (whether voluntary or not). All these incur time penalties with the penalty for dismounting recieving disqualification.

R. M.Williams himself officially opened the inaugural Bronco Branding event and the company is still a major sponsor of various events.

Stonehenge held the first Queensland event in August 1991 and many successful competitions have been held throughout Western Queensland to date. Annual Queensland events are held in Stonehenge, Longreach, Birdsville, Mt Isa, Camooweal, Boulia, Middleton, Winton and Windorah. South Australia also has a Bronco Branding Circuit consisting of the towns of Oodnadatta, William Creek, Maree, Carrieton and Marla. Marla, South Australia will be holding the 2009 Australian/National Titles.

The Australian/National Titles are held every year and rotated between the states (Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory). The first Australian titles were held in Winton, Qld in 1995.

South Australia also has a strong competition circuit as does the Northern Territory from time to time.

Winton held the first team or doubles Bronco Branding competition in May 1993. This event consists of two catchers on horseback and the same three stockmen on the ground. The method of using two catchers was the most common practice in the bush as it accelerated the branding.

This event has proven most popular with competitors and spectators; it does not isolate the catcher and increases pressure on the ground crew where five calves can be “processed” in around 3 to 4 minutes.