OT - Cattle Squeeze Gates

My wife and I are in the market for a Squeeze gate
since we are into cattle now, need one to be make
it easier and safer for both us and the vet.
Wondering what others here use and like or
dislike. We are currently looking at the Priefert
S01 and S04, The S01 being the cheapest, but we
are running beefalo, which can range from 800 to
1,500 lbs, and some can be a little bit fiesty.

I have the S01 chute, I bought it with the automatic catch head gate. Its a good solid chute but its a tight fit for the larger cows. I believe the S04 chute is the same dimensions as the S01. Overall the chute works great for calves and yearlings, we have used it for breeding heifers and castrating calves. I have run the larger cows through but its just a tighter squeeze for them. I would spend the extra money and get the palpation cage too. Makes breeding easier and lets you cut across the alley way.

I bought a Big Valley chute and tub from Neville's up to Clare. The one thing I don't like about this squeeze appears to be fixed on the newer models. The latches that slide up and down to hold the tip downs,aren't quite long enough on mine and if you get a big mean animal in there that's really thrashing around,they can bound up and those tip downs can slam open right quick.
Other than that,pretty high quality stuff and Don even delivered it all with the semi.

I don't know from beefalo but I had a friend who raised buffalo in northern MI and he had to have some extra heavy handling equipment, taller chutes, etc. He's gone now and it has been quite a few years. Don't know if the hybrids are more like the wild or domestic animals. Some would argue that beef critters aren't all that "domestic" either!

There are several good chutes out there. In my opinion if you are going to work 'feisty" cattle, don't cheap out. Hospital bills are a lot more expensive than a good squeeze chute and headgate. Last year I was in the market but waited too long and ended up nursing a dislocated shoulder. Most of what I work is calves and I bought a Tartar squeeze chute. It's OK for calves but I wouldn't recommend it for big cattle. I've got a neighbor that bought a WW setup. It's big enough for 2000# bulls and is heavy enough to stand the abuse. I'm not impressed at all at the Priefert chutes that I looked at and they were over priced.

I have a Priefert with an auto headgate and cannot say anything bad about it. The palpation cage is a great help also. The only complaint I might have about it is the side panels which can be a pain at times if we have to trim a hoof, but even that can be lived with because it's not a trimming chute. But, otherwise, it works well and only rarely misses any critters and that is usually my fault....

It appears the S04 is an inch wider, which may not be that big of a deal. I have to agree with the comments about the Tarter chutes, they look a bit thin for larger cattle. I like the way the Priefert gates scissor instead of swinging, and that they pretty much auto adjust for the cow or calf being caught.

Pair-a-dice, My biggest reason for buying a chute and head gate is exactly your reasons. That and my wife wants to also set our place up to collect some of the bulls. We have a couple yearling bulls that are both exceptional and she wants them collected before we sell them.

So far our beefalo seem to be more sized like "normal" cows, however we have a friend who just sold one of their bulls, he had to be close to 2,000 lbs, darned good thing he is gentle as he will not fit into any of the chutes. Massive animal, but he pretty much acts like a puppy dog.

I tried looking up Neville supply in Clare but they do not appear to have a website.

Oops,I put an E on the end,there isn't one. Don's a good guy to deal with.
His phone number doesn't appear to be on the site though. It's 9 eight 9 386 four 522. I was down in Kentucky and went right to Green River Gate and priced a system,factory direct. Don was just $300 more for the Big Valley system and that included delivery.
If you want to drive up there,he's just east of Jays Sporting Goods. North of Clare,then east at Jays.
Nevill supply

Used a home-made one for years and years; worked great, but was HEAVY (wheels were on the rear....at the side). Was running cattle in 8 different locations; bought a Powder River and absolutely loved it. Been retired for almost 10 years, but if I'se in the business, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat.

I run the Priefert. Don't know which one. Not sure it is the best out there. Not sure I'd buy it again, not sure I wouldn't.

Mark

Look for a Silencer dealer in your area.Our vet has a hydraulic one.It has the rubber blinders on the sides.Handles all sizes of cattle.Easiest chute that i have been around to move cattle into,handle them and release them.Very safe for you too.Well worth the money.

I have a Blattner and is has been real nice. Like another poster said this is something that you don't want to go cheap on. This one has a greaseable roller chain head gate which makes it real smooth and fast. I was doctoring a 2,400 pound bull last year and he fit fine. I admit he was an overgrown kitty cat and didn't put a fight but the chute would have held him if he did.

I have had several brands of chutes. I have had the best results with For-most chutes made right here in Iowa.

I have a model 450 right now. It has held up under some sever usage. The first few years I had this one it was the only chute that we had in the family. So between myself, my sons and my brother there where over 1500 head of feeder cattle and 350 head of brood cows.

I have had a totally CRAZY 3000 lbs. Angus bull in this chute. A good friend has this Angus bull that had a great blood line but at the best of time that bull is plum crazy. Last summer the bull stepped on something and had a sore foot. My friend got the bull into his Palco chute. The bull went nuts and tore the head gate up so bad that they had to cut the linkage to get him out of it. That chute was totaled. That bull bent both sides out a good 3-4 inches.

He called and asked me if he could used my chute. I told him I would bring it over with me running it. We had heck of a time getting that bull back into another chute but we finally got him. Once in the chute he bucked around for 10-15 minutes. he was rocking the entire chute on the ground. I slowly kept squeezing him. Finally got it to where he could not move very much. Local vet worked on the bulls hoof. Had an abscess in the middle of the hoof. The bull never did one thing to my chute but he sure did a number on the Palco chute.