Tips for Creating Beef Cattle Handling Facilities

1. Creating Useful Handling Facilities for Today’s Beef Operations David W. Kammel BSE- UW-Madison

4. Reasons for Handling Facility Safety People Injuries cost money Stress costs money How many here have been injured while handling cattle?

5. Reasons for Handling Facility Safety People Injuries cost money Stress costs money Cattle Injuries costs money Stress costs money How many here have been docked for injuries to cattle?

6. Reasons for Handling Facility Safety People Injuries cost money Stress costs money Cattle Injuries costs money Stress costs money Time Your time The Vet’s time

7. The Design Process Develop the cattle handling management plan Investigate and develop alternative designs on paper Evaluate alternatives and options Choose the “best” system design Troubleshoot and implement the design Iterate Design Change Design

8. Develop a Cattle Handling Management Plan (on paper) Define activities that need to be performed Restraint for Treatments Vaccinations Pregnancy check Dehorning Castration Ear tagging Implants Worming Parasite Control Sorting Loading/ Unloading Weighing Define number and type of cattle to be treated List Needs (and wants) of the Owner Determine features that meet these needs and (wants) Prioritize the list of features Develop a sketch of what you have now

9. to implement your management plan and protocols to protect you to protect your animals save you time Cattle Handling System is a tool:

10. Cattle handling design principles Cattle are herd animals and prefer to move in a group Cattle want to follow herd mates Cattle are stressed when separated and alone Cattle prefer to see where they are going Handler moving opposite the flow of cattle in an alley encourages forward movement of cattle When blocked cattle want to return from where they came Cattle prefer to go around something they feel pressure from

11. Holding pen Crowding Tub Head Gate Working Chute Basic sections in a cattle handling facility

12. Holding Pens

13. Crowding Tub Entrance

14. Working Chute

15. Scale

16. Squeeze Chute

17. Palpation Door Open

18. Palpation Door Closed

19. Injection site Access closed

20. Injection site Access open

21. Portable Squueze Chute

22. Sorting Pens

23. Shelter

25. Cattle Flow Crowding Tub Squeeze Headgate

26. Crowding Tub Cattle Flow

27. Stephen Boyles OSU Extension [email_address]

38. Bud Box working principles Place exit opening as close to the entry gate as possible Cattle must go past the exit opening Concerns Stockmanship is a priority Working cattle from inside the pen Preferable to work from outside the pen with flag or on a catwalk

39. Bud Box Design 14’ x 20’ to load a chute 14’ x 30’ to load a truck Number of animals worked through bud box should match the capacity of the working alley Bud box capacity should be no more than half full Exit opening wide enough for one animal (or double alley) Person working properly is important

40. Bud Box Plan

41. Bud Box Cattle Flow Open sides Solid gate 14’ 20’ Loading chute 30’ Loading truck Exit Entry Pass

42. Bud Box Cattle Flow

43. Bud Box Cattle Flow

44. Bud Box Cattle Flow Stephen Boyles OSU Extension [email_address]

51. Simple Working Chute

57. Small Cattle Handling Facility

74. Remodeled Cattle Handling Facility

80. Remodeled Stall Barn Bud Box

81. Recycled materials Harvestore Panels Grain bin panels Rough sawn lumber Highway guard rails Railroad ties

82. Recycled materials

85. Cattle Handling System Design Details Working Chute Solid Sides Minimum 20’ length Curved Blocking gate at entry and exit One way gates two body lengths behind chute Squeeze chute for varied animal sizes Head gate Scale option Number of holding/sorting Pens Crowding Area Circular tub Funnel shaped with angle on one side Gates in corners of pens Gates in direction of cattle flow 180 degree or more Safety Passes/Gates 14” clear Loading chute near crowding area

86. Nonslip Walking surface Loading Chute Alleys Exit at head gate Nonslip surface Deep concrete grooves Slats Diamond pattern V shaped chutes for varied animals size Cattle Handling System Design Details Minimize square corners and sharp turns Obstacles Protrusions Bolts Nails Edges Latches and gates swings (squeaks) Inspect before use

87. Site Selection Features Easy Access for vehicles Loading and unloading 130-150’ Diameter for truck access w/o backing All weather road Central to pastures and farm site Fences of increasing strength the closer to the handling facility Vehicle type Truck trailer Flat bed Straight truck Semi trailer…. Utilities Water Cattle Cleanup Electricity Lights equipment Drainage Cattle move uphill to handling Security Unauthorized access Biosecurity Expansion Natural and uniform lighting Traffic pattern one way and circular No backtracking All weather use Roof over restraint Shade Rain Wind

88. to implement your management plan and protocols to protect you to protect your animals save you time Cattle Handling System is a tool:

89. Questions?

Tips for Creating Beef Cattle Handling Facilities

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Tips for Creating Beef Cattle Handling Facilities

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