Calving Pen Systems
As new calving management methods have increased in popularity. So too has the need for safer, more mobile calving pen systems. Designed with animal, farmer, and rancher safety in mind. Today’s calving pens are now equipped with features that provide greater animal control and accessibility in critical situations while minimizing stress and risk to the handler and animal alike.
Known as Arrowquip’s resident cattle handling expert, Steve Langrell is also a key member of the Arrowquip research and development team. Because of his long-standing experience of cow-calf and ranching operations, he understands the nuances of today’s proper calving pens in order to keep handlers and cattle safe.
Back in 1971, the year Langrell was born, not many people talked much about calving pens. “We just used a lariat with quick-release honda, so if a cow went down, with just a quick flick of the honda the cow could be released,” Langrell says. “The only upside was you usually had lots of room for the calf puller in a tough pull.” In the early days of calving pen production, the first pens were square and a stanchion-type headgate was common. But gradually ¼ circle calving pens came into the market, which is the biggest trend in the market today.
And when it comes to today’s calving pens, there are far more choices available than ever before. From mobile, rectangular-shaped contraptions to oversized square pens to semi- circular designs, today’s calving pens offer farmers and ranchers a wealth of options from which to choose. And while the best size and dimensions of today’s calving pen systems are bandied about by many in the industry, one thing’s for sure: safety is paramount when it comes to today’s calving pens.
Evolutionary Design
Scott Schutt, sales representative at Apache Equipment, says today’s calving pens have advanced far beyond the contraptions used in previous generations. Now although many ranchers continue to use the traditional 10’x10’ pens, a lot of companies have changed to a half-sweep model or 180-degree model.
“These types of calving pens are seen as safer for the operator to have that type of system,” Schutt says. “I haven’t personally used one of these half-sweep models, so I can’t be certain they ae safer but they are becoming popular.” Apache Equipment currently offers a 10’x10’ square pen with a manual catching head gate.
“Most pens out there are self-catching,” Schutt says. “We offer a manual catch headgate because we feel it is safer for the cow. That way if
she does go down in the calving pen you don’t have to cut that machine apart to get it off of her.”
As Alan Winkel, vice president at Winkle Manufacturing explains, calving pens have changed quite a bit in recent years. “In the past, a manual headgate on two posts and two Winkel panels hooked to a post was it,” Winkel says. “Now the biggest trend is safety for the rancher and cow and the calf, because a lot of the time, the rancher is by himself assisting a heifer having a calf.”
>Today’s Winkel Calving Pen Systems have a full rubber floor in the bottom and a heavy-duty swing out gate on both sides from the main frame. In addition, a milking gate on the left side and a gate in the back left side allows handlers to come in from the back of the cow with the side gates closed.
The pen also features a self-catching head gate and the main frame is 34”x 13 feet long. As Winkel explains, it comes with two panels and one gate panel that hook up to the main frame, allowing farmers and ranchers the ability to make a pen on the left side or move it to the ride side or even hook panels to the back of the main frame and bring a cow in from the back. The 30”-wide, removeable vertical bars allow for C-sections. Winkel also offers a new calving pen on wheels, giving a cow-calf operator the flexibility to quickly changing locations as needed.
Safety First
Today’s calving pen systems ensure maximum safety and control in high-pressure situations regardless of shape or size. Arrowquip designs its calving pen as a circular pen to ensure that cattle safely enter the head gate with the assistance of the sweep. The sweep gate has lock-out points to prevent cattle from pushing back against it for added security. The design includes top and bottom locked doors on both sides of the pen to access different parts of the animal. Arrowquip’s wide 7 pulls calves when necessary.
Handlers have enough space to perform safe delivery at the 5’ back gate. The calving pen often requires animals to recuperate after a procedure. Arrowquip designs its self-catch head gate to allow the rancher to closely monitor the animal during recovery. The self-catch head gate opens back into the pen to keep the animal inside.
Producers need to ensure the calving pen latches are easy to use. Producers want to avoid fiddling with the latch when a cow is in the pen. Handlers or animals could get injured if the latch is difficult to use. Lock each side access gate of the pen individually.
To meet the above recommended calving pen design, Arrowquip made their pen ¼ circle as they believe from using both that these are safer because there is no corner that the cow can get around when the handler is crowding it up. In addition, the Arrowquip has slam latches on all gates and spring-loaded latches on top and bottom crowd gates. In addition to featuring a floor behind headgate, this particular calving pen offers access gates on both sides of the cow. This allows the calf to suck from either side. Arrowquip also has improved the chain latch so that it is easier to use when needing those fine increments—particularly when the crowd gate is up against the cow.
We designed our back gate to provide a wide area for access when it opens for using the puller. We tried to make the pen. Langrell says the rail is high enough and big enough to try to keep the cow from jumping as much as possible. A cow will try to jump anything if it gets worked up enough. Matt Johnson the marketing manager at Powder River agrees that the team should prioritize safety as the most important attribute.
New calving pens are being sought by producers.
Johnson emphasizes that the safety of the animal and the producer holds paramount importance. “Getting banged up while trying to pull makes no sense.”
A person might hurt a calf while trying to help it. Producers and animals stay safe when they buy quality equipment that manufacturers design and build to be safer.
Dan Hoolman with Livestock Equipment & Manufacturing believes that all producers should prioritize safety when purchasing new equipment. Hoolman says that the operator’s safety is vital to the continued operation of any production. A strong foundation for the animal’s life and production comes from ensuring safety for the animal. The safety of the cow and the calves ensures the herd keeps growing.
“The pens from TitanWest offer greater flexibility in set up because of their piece-part style,” Hoolman says. Because of this piece part style, LEM is able to customize the calving pen for the individual operations’ needs.
“The calving pens manufactured by Arrowquip are a circular shape rather than a square,” Hoolman says. “This feature provides more control for the operator when bringing a cow into the pen.”
Other Key Attributes
So what other attributes should farm or ranch operators look for in calving pens? Winkel advises that they need to look at the size of the pen and the type of headgate. You can do this either manual or self-catching. “You also need room behind the cow to work when the cow is in the head gate. As
well as a full floor,” Winkel says. “And we are seeing an increase in mobility in calving pens, with wheel kits allowing it to move to multiple locations.”
Another key attribute that ranchers should look at is usability. Some key questions that need to be asked include: Is the calving pen going to
be able to do what it was designed to do? Are you going to be able to get an animal that needs attention in there easily? Does it have the necessary features that you are looking for? Is it easy to use and can you operate it by yourself at 2 o’clock in the morning? These are some important questions that producers should consider when looking at a calving pen.
Finally, it is important to evaluate the durability and the company that you are buying it from. As Johnson explains, the last thing that anyone wants to happen is to spend 15 minutes fighting a heifer into a pen, finally get her in there, have an equipment failure and have her take off with a breech calf halfway out.
>“Buying quality products from a company that has a good reputation and that stands behind their products will greatly increase your success,” Johnson says. “Additionally, nobody wants to have to repair or replace a brand-new piece of equipment.”
Powder River provides two different calving pen systems. The Homesteader Calving Deluxe Pen uses a 1/4 sweep gate and features a 10’ split.
The team sweeps the gate to provide incredible access. Powder Rivers’ 10’x10’ Calving-Health Pen serves as an ideal space for calving cows. You can also use it as a sick pen.
Both designers create products that are easy to use highly functional and safe.
Strong well-built head gates keep the animal securely in her designated area. Heavy-duty swing gates secure the barrier between the animal and the rancher and confine the animal to one area of the calving pen. Designers create these pens to ensure easy access and facilitate easy cleaning. These pens offer adequate space for both the cow and the calf. You can easily move these pens. They can easily integrate with existing facilities.
Those seeking a decent headgate on a calving pen prefer a self-catch type. But, a stanchion type also works well.
Langrell advises to run it from the back to close it while crowding the cow. He emphasizes keeping the bottom cross bar low to prevent the cow from choking when she goes down.
It is also recommended that handlers have some kind of floor behind the headgate. This make the pen much more secure. A good spring
loaded latching system is also highly recommended. Add on the crowd gate so that it automatically ratchets on stops on your curved panels as you crowd the cow up.
>“Also try and have an easy-to-use latching system for the top crowd gate when you are doing that last little bit of crowding up the cow,” Langrell says. “You want to go in finer increments than your crowd gate latches can give you.”
It is very important that when you open your back gate to calve your cow, that it is big enough to use a calf puller in case of a hard pull. It is also a good idea to have slam latches. so that you can throw the gate shut behind the cow when putting her in.
“And keep your panel height high enough. Remember, you have the cow in a very confined space and sometimes they want to jump,” Langrell says. And as far as what is most beneficial for the calf, make sure you have the heights with your access panels close to right height so that when you open up the bottom gate to help the calf suck, your top gate isn’t too high or too low.
Mistakes To Avoid
Producers often choose calving pen systems that are too small for a cow or heifer to comfortably lay down with her calf after a hard pull. Producers also design pens that are difficult to clean. Johnson explains that small pens can put additional stress on animals. These pens do not allow animals to lay down after hard pulls. This situation can be dangerous for the new-born calf. A difficult-to-clean pen can lead to neglect and become a source of disease for calves.
Johnson states that the future of calving pens will always focus on making the process easier safer and contributing to the rancher’s success. Producers increasingly adopt dedicated calving pen systems as the benefits become more evident. New calving management methods evolve and take hold leading to this trend. More producers choose systems that provide unique benefits. Understood. Please provide the sentences you would like me to convert to active voice.
