Which of the following is NOT a recognized method of branding and marketing?

Branding and marketing in the context of animal science refer to methods used to identify and manage livestock or companion animals, often for management and tracking purposes. Among the listed options, hot branding, freeze branding, and microchipping are all established techniques used for marking animals.

Hot branding involves using a heated metal instrument to create a permanent mark on the animal's skin, typically for identification purposes. Freeze branding, on the other hand, uses extremely cold temperatures to create a similar mark, but it typically results in less damage to the animal's hair and skin, allowing for a less painful identification method.

Microchipping involves implanting a small chip under the animal's skin, which contains a unique identification number that can be read with a scanner. This method is widely used in companion animals, such as dogs and cats, enabling easy identification and recovery.

Dehorning, while an important practice in animal husbandry, is a method used to remove or prevent the growth of horns in cattle and other species for safety and management reasons, rather than a branding or marketing method. It does not serve the purpose of identification or management in the way that the other methods do. Therefore, it is not recognized as a branding and marketing technique, making it the correct choice