What dairy foot trimming crush

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
i am in the market for a new trimming crush. Money is most definitely an object but don’t want to get it wrong.

What have others gone for? What can’t you live without? And what wasn’t worth the extra?

Suggestions of makes much appreciated

Fitted electric hoists on my wopa crush,wouldn’t ever go back to hand winding.

Main faults with my crush are the front gate.

Cows put their front feet through the gaps either side of the head rails and you then can’t lift the front leg till you’ve fought with the cow to get it back.:banghead:

Front gate on it doesn’t shut enough and they get their heads out.:banghead:

Front gate opens one side on a diagonal,smaller cows and heifers end up running at it and will get front half of body stuck and you then need to let them round again.:banghead:

It’s not high enough to get weight off the front feet as the cow is up against the winding rail for the belly strap.:banghead:
Newer crushes are higher,mines fine for normal cows.

Good points.

Chain on rear stops cows kicking back and you winch against it so the foot doesn’t move.

Front feet aren’t bad to do.

It was cheap!


It’s for sale once my new crush comes,1st £750 will buy it.
 

pappuller

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
M6 Hard shoulder
More out of interest, our trimmer has recently invested in a anka crush. Been a wopa man for 30 yrs and after two months with this would never go back
Maybe a little excessive for HC
IMG_20190602_114522.jpg
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
That's true enough, the front feet are lower than the back as well.
The taller you are the worse it will get I guess.

No hang on, you're quite handy. Just weld longer legs on it:D.

Had our old crush on a weigher so was probably 8” raised,fine once the cow was in,but they hated going up the step.
 
Location
cumbria
Had our old crush on a weigher so was probably 8” raised,fine once the cow was in,but they hated going up the step.

I only get the odd one thankfully but refusal is the worst isn't it.
You've had enough before you even start:banghead:.

The slam gates work well though for cows at the opposite end of the scale. I did some the other day and one went in so fast the crush finished about 3' from where it started:eek:.
 

stablegirl

Member
Location
North
I think this is an example of the 80 20 rule I think you can spend 20% of the money and get 80% of the benefit.

For most farms a £5-7k crush is a great investment, I completely get what happy cows has done.

But I could certainly spend that money on other things to make my life easier
 
I’ve just had one of these delivered but not used it yet as nowhere to put it due to building works. I do a fair bit of foot trimming and not going to be too sad to see the back of the old wopa box!!

It's a 1000 times better to use than my old IAE manual winder. My only issue is that a small jersey can pull her head back out of the yoke because it doesn't shut tight enough. It's not a problem if you remember to put the chain up.

Can you get a grant in Wales at the moment @Headless chicken
 

farmboy

Member
Location
Dorset
It's a 1000 times better to use than my old IAE manual winder. My only issue is that a small jersey can pull her head back out of the yoke because it doesn't shut tight enough. It's not a problem if you remember to put the chain up.

Can you get a grant in Wales at the moment @Headless chicken
I’m hoping back bar and decent belly band will stop them going down in crush which will be a big improvement on its own! We had a grant on ours, don’t expect I’d have been allowed one otherwise!!
 

rusty

Member
We have had the HTL crush previously mentioned for about 6 years. Was about £4250 from memory before grant. Had a manual Wopa before with no front winches. Biggest benefit has been the electric winches for front feet. We milk 330 and do all our own trimming and wouldn't be without it now.
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
I think this is an example of the 80 20 rule I think you can spend 20% of the money and get 80% of the benefit.

For most farms a £5-7k crush is a great investment, I completely get what happy cows has done.

But I could certainly spend that money on other things to make my life easier

I’ve never regretted spending on handling facilities or the likes,there are no prizes for injuries caused by stock,I’ve a head scoop,locking head yokes have ordered slide gates for my race,can’t think of anything else to make my life easier.
 
Just a shame his design is rubbish

You can’t have tried one recently.

I don’t know what or how my crush could be improved.

I tried a good few before I bought mine. Kvk was the only one that got close, but was £6000 more for same spec machine.

Honestly if anyone wants to try before they buy (and I recommend you do) then just ask.

I’ve not had any need to request service yet, but the are only 25 minutes away so can’t see a problem.
 
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when we were putting in the parlour we had a shed that meant we could have a race for ai and Tb testing on the exit from the parlour. on the end of which we put a crush. On the inside of the race we put a foot bath. This along with our track system means the need to lift feet is greatly reduced. Would rather have a crap crush and rarely have to use it having spent the money on prevention than have a super doper crush and be using it constantly.
Sorry
 
when we were putting in the parlour we had a shed that meant we could have a race for ai and Tb testing on the exit from the parlour. on the end of which we put a crush. On the inside of the race we put a foot bath. This along with our track system means the need to lift feet is greatly reduced. Would rather have a crap crush and rarely have to use it having spent the money on prevention than have a super doper crush and be using it constantly.
Sorry
You routine at dry off still?
 
Yes but I’m not sure I will this season if this run continues. Have only lifted one cow for wl all yr. have lifted a few for DD cos I was tight with the formalin. Also did about 30 cos they looked overgrown after calving.
When there like that I can do both back feet in 5mins and onto the next. So when help arrives on the last 2 rows in the parlour I bugger of and trim 3 or 4 before we cross the road with the herd. Simples.
 

Blue.

Member
Livestock Farmer
when we were putting in the parlour we had a shed that meant we could have a race for ai and Tb testing on the exit from the parlour. on the end of which we put a crush. On the inside of the race we put a foot bath. This along with our track system means the need to lift feet is greatly reduced. Would rather have a crap crush and rarely have to use it having spent the money on prevention than have a super doper crush and be using it constantly.
Sorry

Now where’s the post where you scorned me for buying a pallet of copper sulphate?:LOL:

I agree prevention rather than cure,my cows need trimming due to diet and being housed,left they will become lame.
 

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