Branding or piercing an animal's ear

A: In Islam, the basic rule is respecting all beasts of cattle and never harming them whether by branding, piercing or cutting of the ear partially or fully or in any other way, unless due to a necessity. If someone, for example, wants to distinguish their animals by cauterizing them away from the face or making a cut in the hump of camels driven as Hady (sacrificial animal offered by pilgrims), there is no harm in that as long as it is necessary and for a valid cause. It is related in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said, "I took `Abdullah ibn Abu Talhah to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) to perform Tahnik for him (chew a piece of date and put its juice in the child's mouth). When I arrived, he (peace be upon him) had the branding iron in his hand and was branding the camels of Zakah (obligatory charity)." It is also related by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah that Anas said, I went to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) while he was cauterizing some sheep in their ears. It is confirmed in "Sahih" book of authentic Hadith by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Al-Miswar ibn (Part No. 26; Page No. 160) Makhramah and Marwan (may Allah be pleased with them both) that they narrated, The Prophet (peace be upon him) set out in the company of more than one-thousand of his Companions, and when they reached Dhul-Hulayfah, he (peace be upon him) garlanded the Hady and marked it. Marking camels (Ish`ar) is done by making an incision in their hump until the blood stains it and then pulling out. This is to show that the marked camel is Hady.However, cauterizing animals in the face is not permissible, since the Prophet (peace be upon him) forbade it and cursed its doer.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.