1.   Every two or three years the family organises a festival for branding the calves and castrating the young bulls.

2.   In late April, Murray was branding calves.

3.   Later, he liked to say he was the only public official in New York City who could rope, tie and brand a calf.

4.   Most of the thefts seem to take place in October and November before the calves are branded, he says.