ATV gray calf catch update

A month or so ago I posted a picture of the calf catch we got and were going to use for calving. A few people were interested in how it worked out. It worked much better than expected, cows and heifers follow it much better than the sled we use to use. Most cows would run right along side. I only had one cow that bumped the cage while tagging and none circled the cage or tried to jump over the four wheeler. Most just simply stood and watched and the more aggressive ones would bellar or shake their head, but no jumpers or bumpers. The catch is very quiet and cows were not spooked of it at all. It has a foot operated trip to shut front gate when you get the calf in the pen and a second gate that holds the calf in place. A third gate can be opened without getting off the wheeler to let the calf out the back. We move each pair as they calf to different lots, some up to 1/4 a mile away with cows following it very well. We had no mud when we started, but did get several inches a few weeks ago. It takes quiet a bit of power to go through deep mud, but just shallow slippery mud was no problem. I had my 350 grizzly on for a time, but the 450 foreman handles it much better, if I had something bigger I would put that on. For our set up, it sure made life easy compared to pulling them up onto a four wheeler or securing them in a plastic sled. This one is made in NE south Dakota, but there is a similar one made in Nebraska, which is a little different design. This one was $1700 new last summer and as far as I am concerned, was money well spent, I was even able to catch a renegade cheetah kid with it!!!!!!

Great idea beats a trip to a hospital. I've got scars on me from one mad mama.

Thanks for the follow-up report.
I've studied your design for awhile and I don't think I'd change a thing.
I toyed with the idea in my mind of a vertical (up and down) gate instead of a swinging gate, but I like your design better.
Ingenious with the trailer hitches!

Looks like the cheetah kid is a keeper.

Larry

I didn't build it, a man in the area builds them, I bought it from him. I think if you are going to build one, you are better off with the swinging gate, if you get a runner, it helps guide them into the chute, otherwise with an up and down gate they may jack rabbit to the side. The only thins I plan to add is a rear view mirror up on the front right frame so I don't have to look back to watch if the cow is following, and also a larger rear tire for mud, similar to a four wheeler tire that has flotation.