Re: OT: cattle handling facility

A friend gave me a chute an homemade gate, made from heavy pipe. I discarded the gate part and mounted the Prifert in place. This chute was used open to the ground. Not liking that I welded supports in and floored it with oak boards. My observation is that with the open bottom a cow caught in the headgate and struggling will try to lift the whole gate and chute. With a floored working chute the struggling cow will be working against itself. I didn't have any problems with the calves moving or getting out. I did weld some additional pipe in the sides.

I would not trust portable corral panels to hold cows in the working portion behind the headgate.

Another system I have seen used is to mount the headgate to large posts set deep in the ground and build the working area of more posts and hardwood planks.

On my head gate I release the cow by opening the gate full width and sent the cow out the front. There can be problems with the cow not wanting to go through the gate but I didn't have any trouble.

I fully agree with putting the gate and working chute under a shelter.

KEH