they look good and I tried to buy one from them last year they gave me a price and asked me for my AD so they could give me a delivered price which I emailed them twice but I never heard any more from them, which was a shame as they seem good and not over expensive
CALVING GATE
- Thread starter sjewart
- Start date
sjewart
Member
Hmmm I messaged them and got a response wanting my address for a quote but I then asked for further info and, although they've read my message, they haven't replied.
- Location
- Near Colchester
To my eye the yoke on that one is wrong - they need to be hinged in the middle so that a collapsing cow can get her head out, also the Caesar gate looks like it might tangle with back feet if the cow is restless.
sjewart
Member
This looks good. Do you like it? Anyone any views on this?
I have bought a cheap head gate and I am going to make my own side gate
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Had Edward Finney in the yard today with his truck of gates etc.
I'm sure he's widely travelled and known as was his dad. How've you found him to be?
I'm sure he's widely travelled and known as was his dad. How've you found him to be?
AGN76
Member
- Location
- north Wales
Not a bad gate however too many fiddly bits to go tight with muck and especially I don’t like the locating hole in the floor.
There should be a locating place above welded and bolting upwards.
sjewart
Member
I kinda gave up the search as I was confused with all the options about - just couldn't work out what was the best one. Some things this girl just isnt so good at! Once I have lambed sheep out the shed I'm going to measure up as the space isn't big and open up the discussion again. I do definitely need one I just don't want to buy the wrong one as I can only justify the expense once in my lifetime.
HundyMundy
Member
Here are some pics of my calving pens
HundyMundy
Member
They are just Ritchie calving gate and a couple of mobile gates pined to the wall and gate post. They work well for sooking calves.
sjewart
Member
I considered the ritchie gate before and its still top of my list. I haven't room for additional gates though.
If you set one up like we did ours so it folds in when not in use it doesn't really take up any room
its not finished yet as you can see the side gate is attached to the head gate with string but we have used it a few times for calving and getting calves to suck and the odd AI and it works well much better than the old crush we had in the same place before they stand much better in it and we can open the gates both sides and leave the cow in the head gate in the middle of the shed which is much better if she were to go down
Kindly modelled by Belle the cow
sjewart
Member
Thank you Belle [emoji4]View attachment 653884 View attachment 653886
If you set one up like we did ours so it folds in when not in use it doesn't really take up any room
its not finished yet as you can see the side gate is attached to the head gate with string but we have used it a few times for calving and getting calves to suck and the odd AI and it works well much better than the old crush we had in the same place before they stand much better in it and we can open the gates both sides and leave the cow in the head gate in the middle of the shed which is much better if she were to go down
Kindly modelled by Belle the cow
This is my shed. Normally it is split in two in middle of water trough by a dividing gate (with internal door).
I would ideally like a 3 in one calving gate on the right side back wall. It would need to fold back flat against brick work.
Main issue is I dont think shed is big enough. Will check when sheep go out to grass but the length from water trough to end of shed isn't great.
looking at it you may just get away with it, it looks like 10 foot bays ?
but its surprising how much room you need behind the head gate by the time you have the cow and calving aid, we tied it up to start with and put a cow in and tried the calving aid to make sure there was enough room, we have 15 foot behind the head gate and there is plenty of room if that's any help, you may get away with a foot or two less but I would make sure before you do all the work
I wanted our one in a position so the cow was on the bedding which is far better for both calving and making a calf suck IMHO
but its surprising how much room you need behind the head gate by the time you have the cow and calving aid, we tied it up to start with and put a cow in and tried the calving aid to make sure there was enough room, we have 15 foot behind the head gate and there is plenty of room if that's any help, you may get away with a foot or two less but I would make sure before you do all the work
I wanted our one in a position so the cow was on the bedding which is far better for both calving and making a calf suck IMHO
sjewart
Member
OK I stopped making excuses and actually got out there and measured up.
From the end of the water trough to the back wall is 442cm (a bitty over 14ft).
Obviously the yoke needs to be a bit back from water trough to allow room for heifers head. Does this sound do-able to anyone?
What doesn't help is my heifers are generally 750kg and long so a very short gate isn't an option. View attachment 654018
