Ritchie Calving gate

[The Ruminant]

Anyone using one of these?
We are about to buy one but wanted to see others' thoughts before splashing the cash
@Alistair McLaren - have you used your new one yet?

http://www.ritchie-d.co.uk/content/calving-gate

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[Wendy10]

We bought one at the start of the winter from a van calling on the yard. Identical to the Richie but not badged. It has proved invaluable over the calving period, including using for one c section. The vet was so impressed she is going to tell all her farmers to buy one! We did struggle to get the cows head in the yolk at first, but found they put heads in better from the bottom of the yolk, rather than the top as with locking bull yolk.

 

[Alistair McLaren]

Yes @The Ruminant just for one cow that had a touch of mastitis. Made it so easy to treat. As @Wendy10 mentioned above its takes a little time to get them to put their head into the yoke if there not familiar with yokes. Found a little time and feed and not locking the yoke at first meant they didn't mind being yoked for treatment. The chain on the gate isn't long enough really. If you have an animal that's not the quietest then it could make shutting the gate difficult as there is no excess to aid closing the gate on them. The lower half of the gate that swings up out of the way for treatment/suckling calf is perfect. Will post some photos that are on the phone

 

[Alistair McLaren]

Calving was made easier with hurdles and gates from @Sussex Martin too

 

[DB67]

We bought one before calving and its great!

 

[harperfarmer]

We bought the IAE "deluxe" hurdle. Best thing we've bought for a long time. So useful for all sorts of things, even just to lock the cow out of the way when tagging/dehorning calves. The only thing is I don't think the handle/locking release mechanism is the best design. But still, a very useful bit of kit.

 

[JP1]

We bought the IAE "deluxe" hurdle. Best thing we've bought for a long time. So useful for all sorts of things, even just to lock the cow out of the way when tagging/dehorning calves. The only thing is I don't think the handle/locking release mechanism is the best design. But still, a very useful bit of kit.

The Ritchie design is better IMO and the adjustable width roller is a good feature

It's a shame the portable calving pen gate in frame is too heavy to manage by hand

 

[Bill the Bass]

Personally I wouldn't use one for calving a cow - what are you going to do if the cow goes down whilst in the head yolk?

looks ideal for C sections (although anyone half handy with a welder will be able to make their own C section gate of much better quality and much cheaper) and suckling 'testing' mothers and general post calving care etc - probably worth it for that alone.

 

[Sussex Martin]

Calving was made easier with hurdles and gates from @Sussex Martin too

@Alistair McLaren glad to see you are making good use of it .

 

[roscoe erf]

i made one cause i'm tight

 

[Alistair McLaren]

Personally I wouldn't use one for calving a cow - what are you going to do if the cow goes down whilst in the head yolk?

looks ideal for C sections (although anyone half handy with a welder will be able to make their own C section gate of much better quality and much cheaper) and suckling 'testing' mothers and general post calving care etc - probably worth it for that alone.

The yoke is a straight run top to bottom and if a animal goes down the head can be released from the bottom as the yoke bar pivots in the middle

 

[Alistair McLaren]

@Alistair McLaren glad to see you are making good use of it .

They've been very useful this season. From being asked 'what do we need them for?' to 'It's a good job we've got these hurdels' in space of about a week

 

[Blaithin]

Over here they come in pen sets called Maternity Pens. Include panels for all sides, the back opens as a gate, the front has a gate beside the head gate as well as the swinging half panel to hold them in to the side. I don't know one cow calf operator that doesn't have them, they're indispensable when it comes to pulling calves, prolapses, milking, putting calves on cows, etc. Beats the heck out of trying to do any of that in a regular chute set up.

 

[thom]

dessie donohoe www.persteel.com make an excellent gate,the gate and yoke are separate and you don't have to enter the pen with the cow to get her into the yoke.
ps.its the 2nd gate on the page

 

[Nearly]

i made one cause i'm tight

I made 4 cos I'm tight too but I wanted one in each pen.
@norse

 

[Chapelton]

We've got one - not sure who made but it looks identical to the Ritchie one and it's brilliant. We don't need it that often but when we do it makes life so much easier and safer for everyone whether it's getting a calf sucking or a full blown caesar.