Head Chute Archives - American Cattlemen

Key Considerations for Purchasing a Head Chute

When it comes to head chutes, there’s no such thing as a “one-size-fits-all” cattle chute. Picking out the right head chute should make your cattle handling operations noticeably smoother, significantly safer, and ultimately much less stressful for everyone involved. Let’s dive into the key features you’ll want to consider to ensure you pick the perfect one!

Keep Safety First

Chutes are the basic backbone of many operations, so they need to be built tough! Think seriously durable materials that can handle bulls pushing and the occasional kick without breaking down. When you’re setting them up, it’s super important to set them up correctly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

It’s a good habit to regularly give your chutes a once-over. Keep an eye out for anything problematic like sharp corners, welds that look a bit iffy, or any bent metal that could hurt you or the cattle. And definitely keep them clear of any debris. A well-maintained chute isn’t just safer; it makes your entire workday a lot easier.

Work cattle through the chutes as safely as you can. Stressed animals are far more likely to act unpredictably, which ramps up the risk of accidents for everyone. By intentionally trying to minimize stressful handling, you’re making your own job safer and more efficient. Calm cattle are simply easier to manage, less prone to injuring themselves, and far less likely to have unexpected reactions. By keeping these safety tips in mind, you’ll create a much better, safer, and more productive experience for both you and your herd.

Consider the Size of Your Herd

Fitting the right chute to your current and growing cattle ranch makes everything smoother and safer. It’s not just about getting the first one you see; it’s about getting a chute that’s specifically designed to work hand-in-hand with your unique herd and the jobs you need to get done.

The very first thing to chat about is the kind of cattle you’re raising and their size. If you’re dealing with larger cattle, you’ll definitely want to lean towards a heavier-duty chute that can really stand up to their size and strength. If you’ve got non-polled, scurred, or longhorn cattle, you know their horns can be a challenge. Some chute designs are just better suited for them, so keep that in mind.

It’s also super important to think about the range of sizes you’ll be running through that chute. Let’s be honest, at some point, you’re probably going to need to put your biggest bull through there, but you’ll also be handling calves. This means you’ll need a chute with a squeeze mechanism that offers an extensive range of adjustment. That way, you can safely and securely hold anything from your biggest bull to your smallest calf, making sure everyone stays safe and comfortable. Getting a chute that’s versatile enough for every age and size in your herd will absolutely pay off in the long run.

What Are You Needing it For

Finally, consider what you’ll actually be doing with your new chute. Are you mostly just doing routine vaccinations, or do you have bigger tasks like artificial insemination, branding, or dehorning on your to-do list? The more varied the jobs you need to perform, the more versatile your chute should be.

In this case, you will want to pay attention to some of the features, like a good headgate to secure their head, a chin bar for extra stability, a rump bar to keep them from backing up, or even a palpation cage if you’re doing veterinary checks. These additions can seriously smooth out those multi-step processes. By looking for chutes designed for both basic everyday tasks and more advanced handling needs, you can pick a model that truly covers all your bases.

Ultimately, choosing a cattle chute is an investment in your ranch’s efficiency and the well-being of your animals. By taking a moment to think about your specific herd – their size, their type, and all the tasks you’ll be doing – you can confidently pick a chute that feels like it was made just for your ranch, helping you work smarter and safer for years to come!

Mobile Cattle Chute

A mobile cattle head chute is essentially a portable version of the robust head chutes. Think of it as your primary cattle handling station, but with wheels! These units are designed to be easily moved, often towed behind an ATV, UTV, or truck, allowing you to bring the handling equipment directly to your cattle, wherever they might be in the pasture. They’re built sturdy but light, offering a secure way to hold an animal by the head for various procedures.

Furthermore, mobile head chutes are exceptionally versatile. They’re perfect for routine tasks like vaccinations, ear tagging, administering medication, or even artificial insemination, all done conveniently where the cattle are. This can be a huge benefit for ranches that might not have extensive permanent infrastructure in every pasture, or for those just starting out and building their working facilities incrementally. They offer a safe and secure environment to perform necessary husbandry tasks without having to invest in multiple fixed corrals.

The biggest benefit of a mobile head chute is that it can be moved, and that makes managing cattle across different properties and pastures manageable. Instead of spending valuable time and effort gathering and driving your entire herd back to a central, fixed working corral, you can simply hitch up your mobile head chute and take it right to them.

While mobile squeeze chutes offer fantastic flexibility, they do come with a few considerations that might be seen as drawbacks depending on your specific operation.

One point to keep in mind is the initial cost. Because they incorporate a sturdy frame, axles, wheels, and a hitch for transport, mobile units can sometimes have a higher upfront price tag compared to a very basic stationary chute. You’re paying for that added engineering and the convenience of portability.

Wear and Tear

Then there’s the aspect of wear and tear. Since these chutes are regularly moved across various terrains, exposed to different weather conditions, and constantly hitched and unhitched, components like tires, axles, and suspension can experience more stress and require more maintenance over time than a chute that simply stays in one place. Because these are built to be mobile and lightweight, you might notice they’re not as “tough” as a permanent chute.

While they save time by bringing the chute to the cattle, there’s still a certain amount of setup and teardown involved. You’ll need to position it correctly, ensure it’s level, and secure it in place before you can start working. This isn’t a huge amount of time, but it’s more than simply walking up to a permanently installed chute.

Also, mobile units generally have limitations and work well for smaller groups or specific tasks, but if you’re looking to efficiently work hundreds of head at once, a mobile chute might not offer the same flow and throughput as a custom-built, multi-pen permanent system.

Choosing a headchute is a significant investment for your ranch. A good chute is invaluable and can be a great help when cattle are having dystocia or health problems. When buying one, consider the location and the size of your cattle herd. A mobile option might be best if you’re moving from farm to farm. Above all, please consider the safety of yourself and cattle when making your choices.

By Jessica Graham

September 2025

Home – American Cattlemen

Looking for something different to read, check out this fly article

Keeping Flies At Bay

Here is the Dairy Side of things

Home – American Dairymen

Or if you enjoy the Outdoors, that could be hunting, fishing, or just recreational outdoor activities the Iowa Sportsman is a great option

Home – Iowa Sportsman

Head Chute Design & Safety

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.

Improving the Wellbeing of the Cattle

“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.”

By Maura Keller

Home – American Cattlemen

Here is another Article, Check it Out!

Cattlemen’s Beef Quarters Introduces New Menu Items

The Dairy side of things is Here

Home – American Dairymen

If you enjoy the Outdoors. Whether it be hunting, fishing, or just enjoying nature the Iowa Sportsman is a great choice

Home – Iowa Sportsman