The Perfect Cattle Working Chute for Up-and-coming Ranchers is Finally Here

The Perfect Cattle Working Chute for Up-and-coming Ranchers is Finally Here

Article and photos courtesy of Arrowquip

For new cattle ranchers, finding the perfect cattle chute for your operation can be intimidating with so many options on the table, but it’s also an exciting time. You get to make an investment on equipment that will improve your operation and create hundreds of memories to be passed down through the generations. That’s why it’s important to do your research and choose a cattle chute that will increase safety and efficiency, and last for generations to come. This is where Arrowquip’s all-new Easylock 33 Series Cattle Working Chute comes into play. This is an all-in-one, budget friendly chute for up-and-coming ranchers is your new go-to solution for safe cattle handling.

Safe Cattle Handling on a Budget
There are many budget-friendly cattle chutes available on the market, however, many are built using low-cost materials that are not meant to withstand use over time, meaning you’ll need to purchase replacement parts frequently and you’ll be buying a new chute before you know it. This can also serve as a safety risk to operators. If the chute isn’t manufactured using high-quality material, there’s a higher risk of things breaking, which can lead to injury.

Even though the Easylock is a budget-friendly chute, doesn’t mean quality needs to be sacrificed. This cattle working chute is manufactured using the same heavy-duty North American steel that all other Arrowquip

products are made with. This guarantees the chute will withstand rowdy cattle, daily wear and tear, and the test of time. Arrowquip cares about the safety of cattle and operators alike, which is why every chute is manufactured with only the highest quality material. This ensures that parts are unlikely to break, keeping you free from injury.

Secure Cattle Handling with the Easylock
Unlike other Arrowquip manual cattle chutes, the Easylock 33 is designed with a “V” style squeeze, similar to others within the market. What sets the Easylock apart from many other chutes is the fact that it’s a double-sided squeeze. With this, both sides of the squeeze move together simultaneously to apply even pressure to the animal while they’re in the chute. With a one-sided squeeze, cattle often feel off-balanced as the pressure is only being applied from one side. This can cause unnecessary stress to the animal and make them harder to calm while in the chute. By using a double-sided squeeze, you’re helping the animal feel more secure while they’re in the chute, and making the environment better to work in.

Like the new Arrowlock cattle chutes, the Easylock head gate is designed using a ratchet locking mechanism so you can get more security when catching cattle. However, something new to Arrowquip’s cattle chutes is the use of a ratchet locking squeeze. All of Arrowquip’s other manual cattle chutes have been designed with a friction locking squeeze, however, the Easylock uses a ratchet locking mechanism with the squeeze.

This is paired with a multi-position handle, meaning you can adjust the handle in five different positions to guarantee you get the most leverage for your use, ensuring optimal squeeze on the animal.

Additionally, this cattle working chute is equipped with access points from front to back. Featuring the same side access panels, you’ve come to know and love with all of Arrowquip’s other products, a drop-down and removable bottom access panel for access to the bottom half of your animal, and a complete side emergency exit, you can have complete access to your livestock at every point.

Reliable Cattle Handling no Matter What
We understand that cattle chutes take a lot of wear and tear during use. With the Easylock 33, you don’t have to worry about breaking something every time you work your cattle. Not only is it designed using high-quality materials, but on the off-chance that something does break, this cattle working chute comes with a 3-year warranty on the chute and a lifetime warranty on all locking mechanisms including the ratchet system.

Arrowquip also offers industry-leading Client Care, because they know that ranching isn’t a typical Monday to Friday, 5-9 job. Anything can happen at any time, especially when you’re working with cattle, so it’s important to be there when you need it most. Out in the field working cattle and come across an issue? No problem! Arrowquip’s dedicated Client Care Team is more than willing to phone or video call you so they can help solve the issue in real-time so you can get back to work – because when it comes to ranching, time is money.

Ready to get your journey toward safer, more reliable cattle handling started? Contact Arrowquip today at 1 (877) 383-7827 or visit arrowquip.com to speak with a Livestock Expert today.

Head Chute Design & Safety

Head Chute Design & Safety

By Maura Keller

When working cattle, there are a myriad of safety issues that emerge. From problems with loading or unloading animals on transportation equipment to slippery floors to sharp edged fencing, humans and cattle are both at risk. And head chutes are a key safety concern facing producers – if head chutes fail or are damaged, tragic incidents can occur.

According to Kaydence Michalsky, content lead at Arrowquip, working cattle is dangerous, so it’s important to for producers to ensure they have proper equipment. Arrowquip manufactures a variety of permanent and portable head chutes for ranches of all sizes.
“There are a lot of safety issues surrounding head chutes for cattle and operators alike,” Michalsky says. Some of the biggest safety issues include:
• Sharp edges. If your head chute isn’t built properly and features any sharp edges, cattle risk the chance of injuries to their neck and heads including bruising or cuts.
• Security. Producers should utilize a head chute that is guaranteed to hold your cattle; however, some head chutes don’t have as strong of a hold on cattle as they should. While in a head chute, cattle are likely to swing their heads around. If your animal swings their head and loosens the head chute, there is a higher chance of you and/or the animal getting injured.
• Homemade head chutes: Ranchers have been making their own head chutes for decades, and they are a cost-effective option, but this isn’t necessarily the best practice.
“When building a homemade head chute, you run the risk of unstable construction, sharp edges and poor restraint mechanisms,” Michalsky says. “This poses a great risk of injury to anyone operating the head chute and the cattle the device is being used on.”
Kelvin Deayton, product manager – North America, Lakeland Farm & Ranch in Waterford, MI, says that injuries to humans including pinching, crushing, and kicking hazards when working closely with large livestock are key safety issues. In addition, injuries to the animals themselves, which may include stress, bruising and physical harm due to improper restraint or handling are also concerns.

“Equipment malfunction, including the failure of mechanical components, such as gates or latches, can lead to dangerous situations,” Deayton says.

Design Evolution
Historically speaking, the design of head chutes has evolved over the years to address safety issues for both producers and the animals.

As Michalsky explains, some of the first head chutes were mounted to fence posts and made with whatever resources were around. Today, there are various kinds of head chutes available that make cattle handling safer:

“Hydraulic head chutes increase safety of working cattle because they are virtually hands-off,” Michalsky says. The head chute is operated using hydraulic controls, which lessens the likelihood you’ll need to operate the equipment in close proximity to the animal. Additionally, a hydraulic chute increases efficiency and reduces fatigue, which can lower the chances of mistakes.

Similar to hydraulic head chutes, self-catch head chutes are very hands-off. “The animal catches itself in the chute using the force of its shoulders,” Michalsky says. “This can reduce the risk of handles flying and hitting the operator as cattle come into the head chute.”

And unlike the hydraulic and self-catch head chutes, manual catch are more hands-on and requires more control from the operator. This, however, can play into the safety and efficiency of the equipment. By creating a more controlled environment, the operator can reduce stress for all involved. Additionally, manual head catches drastically reduce bruising on cattle when compared to self-catch.

As Michalsky explains, with a manual head catch, cattle do not have to hit their bodies against the equipment which lowers the chances of chute shyness and increases both safety and efficiency. As years have progressed, many ranchers are beginning to see the benefits of manual catch, meaning they’re increasing in popularity.

“Overall, modern day head chutes have prioritized the safety and well-being of cattle and operators alike through animal behavior research and design,” Michalsky says.

Deayton adds that today’s head chutes include improved restraint mechanisms. “The use of hydraulic or automatic systems for smoother operation and reduced stress on animals has improved,” Deayton says.

There is also increased operator safety in head chutes with the incorporation of safety features like anti-back up gates, being able to operate headgate from behind the animal, and non-slip surfaces.

“The animal welfare focus has also evolved with designs that minimize discomfort and injury to animals during handling,” Deayton says.

Mistakes To Avoid
Unfortunately, there are common mistakes that producers make as it relates to the use of head chutes that compromise the safety of the equipment.

Ranchers are resourceful people, and they’ll try and find solutions themselves. While this can be helpful for many things, it can end up causing injuries and more issues if they’re not careful.

“I’ve seen this happen with head chutes before… a rancher comes across an issue with their head chute and decides they want to try and fix it themselves,” Michalsky says. “If they come across an issue with their head chute, it’s better to call the manufacturer to avoid any injury.”

Another common mistake seen is lack of maintenance to the head chute. According to Michalsky, it’s important to follow the product guidelines and perform regular maintenance on the equipment. If regular maintenance is not followed, this can cause the equipment to malfunction and increase the risk of injury to both the operator and the cattle.

Deayton says producers should also look for improper adjustment of head chutes, specifically, incorrect sizing or setup of the headgate or chute for different animal sizes can lead to ineffective restraint.

“Also, there may be inadequate training of personnel on proper headgate or chute operation and safety protocols,” Deayton says.

What To Look For
When purchasing a head chute, the design of the equipment is very important. Michalsky advises ranchers should look for easy-to-use operation, such as a single operating handle that can be used at any point along the chute. Additionally, they’ll want to look for a head chute that is designed with the animal in mind.

“Things such as a barred head gate that allows cattle to see light will help keep the situation low-stress and make cattle easier to handle and more willing to run through the equipment,” Michalsky says.

Durability, namely head chutes that exude sturdy construction materials that can withstand wear and tear is also paramount.

“Producers should look for ease of operation as well,” Deayton says. “Intuitive controls and mechanisms that facilitate smooth and low stress handling, preferably designed for one-person operation is important.”

The head chute system should also focus on animal comfort and include non-slip flooring, padded surfaces and adjustable restraint settings.

“Emergency release mechanisms, visibility enhancements and protective guards are also key,” Deayton says.

He also advises that producers make sure that head chutes undergo regular inspections and implement schedule for routine maintenance and inspection of all chute components.

“Ensure all personnel handling livestock are trained in chute operation and safety procedures and Keep updated with industry standards and innovations in chute design to enhance safety and efficiency,” Deayton says. “Be sure to seek advice from veterinarians or experienced ranchers to optimize chute setup and usage for animal welfare.”

Benefits of Weighing Beef Cattle

Benefits of Weighing Beef Cattle

Weighing Your Beef Cattle Can Be Helpful in Increasing Efficiency throughout your Herd and Feeder Cattle.

By Taylor Zahn, Extension Educator, Penn State Extension

Weighing your cattle can benefit you in several ways and increase efficiency throughout your herd. However, a scale is often absent on smaller farms. Industry experts share that it is often thought that this one piece of equipment can help save and make money, grow better cattle, and gain efficiency in your herd.

An absent scale on the farm will leave beef producers estimating cattle weight gain (or loss), pharmaceutical dosages, feed requirements, and average daily gain. It can also increase the risk of penalties when selling groups of cattle.

Cow-Calf Producers
Regarding cow-calf producers, record keeping, diets, and stocking rates can be managed efficiently by knowing accurate weights. Feed is commonly said to be the highest cost to a beef producer. With correct cattle weights, one can avoid over-feeding, saving significant money in the long run.

Record keeping of weights can also provide an average daily gain (ADG) and ensure that rations fed to growing cattle efficiently meet their dietary needs. Most performance records in cow-calf operations are based on weight. Weighing mature cows within a herd will allow producers to manage the herd and genetics better and provide knowledge to assist in reaching production goals. For example, when looking at weaning weight, one might assume that a group of steers that averaged 600 pounds was better than the group that averaged 520 pounds. However, when you consider that the 520-pound calves were weaned off 1100-pound cows versus the 600-pound calves that came off 1350-pound cows, the overall efficiency of the two herds is different.

Over or under-estimating mature cow weight will also significantly impact one’s stocking rate. For example, assuming your average mature cow size is 1,000 pounds when, in reality, you are running 1,200-pound cows will result in over-stocking your pastures and lead to future problems with feed and mineral supply. On the flip side, if you are underestimating by just 100 pounds, you would be missing out on grazable pasture per head and are likely overspending on the mineral. Many producers would also agree that fertilizer is a high cost. Suppose a producer cannot determine the total pounds of cattle an acre supports or animal units per month (AUM). In that case, fertilizer or supplemental feedstuff investments are not adequately managed.

Cattle Feeders
Cattle Feeders will benefit from weighing their cattle by monitoring animal performance, improving animal health, and forecasting the best time to sell the cattle. An idea of the animal or group of animals’ average daily gain (ADG) will allow the producer to manage better feed rations, underperforming animals, and grouped cattle.

Feeding programs for stockers and feeders can vary based on region, by-product availability, and goals. Routinely weighing cattle will help determine the success of different feeding programs and allow the selection of animals for preferential feeding. Even if the goal is to sell freezer beef, an accurate live animal weight is needed. Either an invoice for the live animal is made before the date of slaughter utilizing the butcher processing fees and live weight, or a live weight and the USDA pricing guide can be used for retail beef.

If the producer has contracted cattle to sell at a specific weight, having accurate weight numbers will provide better guidance to meet those requirements. It will also assist in avoiding weight penalties at the packer plant. Weight penalties will add up over time if uniformity is not prioritized. Utilizing cattle weights can help determine where to buy calves. For example, suppose you have a group of cattle performing poorly from a specific farm compared to other cattle on the same ration. In that case, you may make management decisions not to buy from them again.

When an animal is sick, the accurate pharmaceutical dosage is crucial to management and beef quality assurance. In addition, correct body weight will allow the dosage to be precise, which is best for the calf and the most cost-effective for the stocker.
Livestock owners and veterinarians should work together to make decisions that improve animal health. All drugs should be administered as directed by its label.

Conclusion
Collecting accurate weights on beef cattle will be nothing short of beneficial to managing your operation and finances. In a time like today, where the profit margins in the beef industry are continually being challenged, a simple practice can grow significant returns. Pencil-pushing accurate numbers will always provide the producer with the best information to allow for changes and growth within cattle production.

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