Cattle race

[Cowwilf]

Evening all.

I'm Wanting to build a race already got a concrete floor and one good solid wall to do one side so thinking girders and rails or gates to do the other side, would be greatful of any advice or pictures and also on how to make a forcing yard preferably a square one.

Thanks, Will.

 

[jimmer]

i like gates , due to the fact you can open the side if a cow goes down etc
but vets dont like vertical posts when tb testing , unless you do all the jabs in the crush at the end

 

[fermerboy]

I'm interested in ideas too. We need to get something sorted in a confined area and very low down on the expense scale.
Was thinking of crash barriers on the inside of posts to make a smooth run into a cattle crush. Want to mount the crush on my new weigh bars, otherwise i might have just used a headstock.

 

[Cowwilf]

Good point about cows going down. There is plenty of room for the crush at the end.

 

[Will Blackburn]

We are using panels on one side with a raised walkway behind them with gates on the other for easy access/escape.Hopefully it will do the job.

 

[Lofty1984]

Here's the one we put up in work circular forcing pen on this one though

 

[jimmer]

our gates are hung with the hinges running the same direction as the race flows , this means i can shut the gate bolt inside the latch post and push it inwards to get behind a cow quickly

 

[lazy farmer]

we have in effect a holding area that holds a row of cows from the parlour(20) that leads into a 6/7 cow herringbone standing area for Tb testing, the exitdoor for this leads either out into the yard or into the crush.
IF you have to do a lot of testing I can't speak highly enough of having quick facilities reduces stress on both stock and staff.we for example can TB during milking with the only real delays being when the dreaded green eartags have to be put in

 

[Cowwilf]

our gates are hung with the hinges running the same direction as the race flows , this means i can shut the gate bolt inside the latch post and push it inwards to get behind a cow quickly

Sounds good, Some pictures would be much appreciated.

 

[jimmer]

Sounds good, Some pictures would be much appreciated.

will do

 

[Cowwilf]

we have in effect a holding area that holds a row of cows from the parlour(20) that leads into a 6/7 cow herringbone standing area for Tb testing, the exitdoor for this leads either out into the yard or into the crush.
IF you have to do a lot of testing I can't speak highly enough of having quick facilities reduces stress on both stock and staff.we for example can TB during milking with the only real delays being when the dreaded green eartags have to be put in

Thanks for the replies.

We don't have to test two often (12 monthly) but looking to make it easier and safer as only me and the old man here. Having to do a contiguous test is what's got me thinking about set up. I am thinking a straight race to start with and add a herringbone race to the end of it later as it would be handy for vet routine and ai. So again some pictures would be much appreciated.

 

[organicguy]

If you are trying to test in a straight race you need access to both sides so you can keep all the heads to the vets side.
If you are testing different ages you may want to think about making the race so you can squeeze in one side.

 

[Devon lad]

If you are testing different ages you may want to think about making the race so you can squeeze in one side.

Any ideas of how to do this?

 

[jimmer]

Any ideas of how to do this?

square posts in sleeves
pull out and twist 90 degrees to make race six inches narrower
if it was a two sided race , a foot narrower would cater for nigh on all ages

 

[RobFZS]

ours has square posts in sleeves and then crash barriers up to the crush , cant really say it's an issue having it at a set size based on the biggest cow and then sending stirks down aswell.

 

[bovine]

I like crash barriers like @Lofty1984, but leave bigger gaps and then you can test through them. 3 barriers in the space he has 4 would be ideal for me. So long as they can't get their heads stuck.

Unless they are evil sucklers then solid sides and I'll test in the crush, thanks.

 

[Lofty1984]

I like crash barriers like @Lofty1984, but leave bigger gaps and then you can test through them. 3 barriers in the space he has 4 would be ideal for me. So long as they can't get their heads stuck.

Unless they are evil sucklers then solid sides and I'll test in the crush, thanks.

We altered the spacing after those picture we found if you left a small gap the buggers could get a foot up on there so put them touching in the end seemed to cure the problem figure they need to go through the crush to get out anyway

 

[Water Wheel]

We try to run cows through race/crush on a regular basis so they are familiar with it, especially for 10 days before test, if we have the time someone stands near crush as they walk through on training runs, even open and close head yolk so they are used to the noise.
It all takes time but massively reduces stress on test days.

 

[organicguy]

Any ideas of how to do this?

I have not done it but I was going to attach my side panels on a 6 in hinge/bar mounted 2 in off the floor. For the calves just drop it down to let it pivot in and over centre. I think it will work. the cow width is not a problem for yearlings, its when we have to test 6-9monthers that it is a pain as they turn around.

 

[Cowwilf]

Has any one had chance to get some pictures or measurements? Hoping to make a start at it this week.