Squeeze Chute Options

I know this has probably been beat to death and I have done some searching and reading, but some of the information is outdated.

I'm trying to pick a squeeze chute for my operation which will be max ~12 pairs.

So, I don't know that I need to most expensive arrowquip, but want a quality unit that will last a long time.

I am participating in the TAEP program, so the unit has to be new.

I think a Priefert S04 would probably do everything I would need it to, but I know there are a lot of new unknown name units out there.

What does the forum think?

I agree. I feel like you will give up some quality or things with some of the plainer/cheaper units and agree the others are way too much.

The good thing about that Priefert is it's also well know and will hold some resale value, especially if kept in decent shap, vs some of the lesser known chutes.

In all honesty, a Priefert S0191 would probably be all I need. They both use the same head gate.

I don't see what the S04 does that I couldn't do with a S0191? I think the sliding gate at the rear would probably be fine.

The size and rear gate look Iike the only difference. I would be interested to hear more thoughts, also, from the people that have them on here. I can see the slide getting old but not with 12 pairs. It looks like about a $1500 saving. That's pretty significant.

Brute 23 said:

The size and rear gate look Iike the only difference. I would be interested to hear more thoughts, also, from the people that have them on here. I can see the slide getting old but not with 12 pairs. It looks like about a $1500 saving. That's pretty significant.

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I've asked my local CO-OP to price them both for me.

Curious what the price difference will be here in the state of TN.

We use a Powder River squeeze chute with automatic/self-catch headgate. I can’t find a model number on it, but it looks nearly identical to their current S1500 model except ours has a drop gate on the rear instead of a sliding gate. We bought it used 20 years ago, and it has met the needs of our small operation (30-40 pairs). I have had to make a few minor repairs over the years (replaced a broken handle on the headgate, reattached the drop gate pulley) but nothing major.

An automatic/self-catch headgate is very handy if you need to work a cow by yourself. It looks like both Priefert chutes you’re considering have a headgate that can be operated in manual or automatic mode. The Powder River automatic headgate requires the cow to push on the gate with her shoulders until it rotates forward and locks into place, which sometimes causes my cows to balk and back up when they first touch the gate. The Priefert headgate design looks like it requires less contact from the cow to trigger the automatic catch, so it may be less prone to making cows balk. It also looks like releasing cows from the Priefert headgate would be easier. Sometimes my cows will pull backward while caught in the Powder River automatic headgate, which makes it impossible to rotate the headgate forward to release them until they quit pulling backward.

I haven’t operated a Priefert, so I’m just speculating on how well it actually works. Our Powder River has met our needs, but it looks to me like the comparable Priefert chute might be a bit of an upgrade.

My Priefert S0191 has the slide gate and wife's brother has the rear split gate S04. His is a little taller and longer. The difference in price I could find was $3999 vs $5299. Mine is in the dry and never gets rained on and I keep the back gate lubed and cleaned around. They run in and I close the gate as it works well.

It’s so regional. You couldn’t give me a Priefert. The headgate controls are backwards compared to every other chute I’ve ever used. The vast majority of guys around here have either a For-Most or a Stronghold. Arrowquip is taking some of that market. I’d put my For-Most 375 up against chute. I’ve had it 16 years and used to routinely run 200 cows through it twice a year. It will hold cows and bulls that weigh over a ton, and catch month old calves.
A 300 would be a great in between chute for a small operation.

I would stay away from the batwing headgate. They work, but the suck for several reasons. I would stay with one of the Prieferts and opt for the S04.

SBMF 2015 said:

It’s so regional. You couldn’t give me a Priefert. The headgate controls are backwards compared to every other chute I’ve ever used. The vast majority of guys around here have either a For-Most or a Stronghold. Arrowquip is taking some of that market. I’d put my For-Most 375 up against chute. I’ve had it 16 years and used to routinely run 200 cows through it twice a year. It will hold cows and bulls that weigh over a ton, and catch month old calves.
A 300 would be a great in between chute for a small operation.

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No doubt better than a Priefert, but more money. For 12 cows I would just mount a headgate on stout posts with a side exit gate and a tail gate.

Buy the SO4. Over the long run, not enough money to worry about. Things change and its better to have the bigger chute and not need it than the other way around. Plus its resale value will be higher if you ever have to liquidate.
Mighty Mouse's commentary is very good for someone who has never operated one.

The self catch works well but it has a learning curve. I would rather not use it but its there when needed. The chute could be little bigger in all directions IMO. Like was mentioned earlier, I would never buy another saloon door chute either.
The Priefert headgate is a much better design with no adjustment needed for big cows to baby calves. Customer service is second to none.

Its not the best chute by far but it works well for small to middle size operations. Its to tight for big bulls but from the topic that came up last week, most of them are.

clarkmorefarm said:

I know this has probably been beat to death and I have done some searching and reading, but some of the information is outdated.

I'm trying to pick a squeeze chute for my operation which will be max ~12 pairs.

So, I don't know that I need to most expensive arrowquip, but want a quality unit that will last a long time.

I am participating in the TAEP program, so the unit has to be new.

I think a Priefert S04 would probably do everything I would need it to, but I know there are a lot of new unknown name units out there.

What does the forum think?

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I've never had more than a head gate and an alley/corral I built myself. Always worked my cattle by myself, because the wife was more prone to run than to stand her ground. But be that as it may, I've always looked at the squeezes available and not seen much difference. They all have quirks that make none of them perfect. Therefore... I think you're overthinking it. What some guy on the forum thinks is not as important as what you think. You buy and you learn to use what you get.

Travlr said:

I've never had more than a head gate and an alley/corral I built myself. Always worked my cattle by myself, because the wife was more prone to run than to stand her ground. But be that as it may, I've always looked at the squeezes available and not seen much difference. They all have quirks that make none of them perfect. Therefore... I think you're overthinking it. What some guy on the forum thinks is not as important as what you think. You buy and you learn to use what you get.

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Yes, a lot of truth in this statement.

I usually explore many avenues when it comes to spending money for the farm, do a lot of research online, speak to my friends that run cattle as well.

I got prices back from CO-OP, S0191 $4000, the S04 is $5600. I'm sure I could do a little better on those prices, but at least these are local and in stock.

A lot depends on the type of cows but I won't use a headgate with out a squeeze. If you don't squeeze most our cows they think they can fight that headgate and it's a lot easier for things to go south like slipping, laying down, or pulling out.

I'm always getting on my buddy for being lazy and not squeezing immediately with the head catch. He will get away with it on a few but inevitably one comes through and causes a ruckus.

I helped a friend work cattle a while back on a couple lease places with only head gates. It was the chit show I always thought it would be.

When I got the SO4 I thought I would use the self catch a lot more. If you have pretty wild cattle or ones that don't go through a lot it works but is kind of a last resort for me. A lot of times, those cows are probably a pia in general and need to hit the road.

Now that we have had the chute long enough for all the cows to get use to it and all the heifers have gone through it since birth it's WAY easier. A lot of them I leave the headgate shut and only open the rear. They walk up in the chute and I close the rear. Then I go open the headgate and they walk through and I close it. It works a lot better for every one if they will let you slow them down like that. Catching them at run is makes for laughs but is not good long term.

Before I bought the Arrowquip I also looked at the Real tuff chute, and thought it looked like a nice chute.

Since I’ve been around quiet chutes I now can’t stand the sound of mine. If I could make a suggestion it would be before you buy one shake the he!! out of it, throw the levers back and forth with all your might and see if there isn’t a big difference between brands. Arrowquip is quiet. So is Silencer. When I help neighbours work cows with a quiet system I’m always amazed at how everything works better (including me) without all the racket.

clarkmorefarm said:

I've asked my local CO-OP to price them both for me.

Curious what the price difference will be here in the state of TN.

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Notsurewhat the price is on a WW compared to a Priefert but it seems to be made a lot heavier and solid. I got a bargain on a good used one and we really like it. I've worked with some Prieferts in the past and they don't seem as solidly made

Stonewall Joe said:

Notsurewhat the price is on a WW compared to a Priefert but it seems to be made a lot heavier and solid. I got a bargain on a good used one and we really like it. I've worked with some Prieferts in the past and they don't seem as solidly made

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We have used WW for 30+ years and like them. Only issue has been the rope that pulls the rear gate up had to be replaced due to age. We bought a second one after purchasing another piece of property.

Texas G@l said:

We have used WW for 30+ years and like them. Only issue has been the rope that pulls the rear gate up had to be replaced due to age. We bought a second one after purchasing another piece of property.

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I bought my first WW in 1990. Several thousand head has went through it. Never a problem except that it doesn't hold baby calves very good.

SBMF 2015 said:

It’s so regional. You couldn’t give me a Priefert. The headgate controls are backwards compared to every other chute I’ve ever used. The vast majority of guys around here have either a For-Most or a Stronghold. Arrowquip is taking some of that market. I’d put my For-Most 375 up against chute. I’ve had it 16 years and used to routinely run 200 cows through it twice a year. It will hold cows and bulls that weigh over a ton, and catch month old calves.
A 300 would be a great in between chute for a small operation.

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That's true... and there's a reason for that. Their heagate lever runs parallel to the chute instead of outward up and down. That's so that it's not sticking out in your way. IMO, they've actually done a great job of placement. The other thing is, with all those "other chutes you've ever used", you HAVE TO squeeze the doors shut (if it's not the automatic cafe' door style, which I personally hate), and so they position it's function so that you can use your body weight to bear down on that closing handle. The Preifert headgate closes against the neck by itself (basically just let go of the handle), as long as everything is oiled up and operating freely. You just don't HAVE TO work that hard to ensure a secure catch. And if she backs up, it automatically will narrow the opening up as the neck narrows, and it simply can't open up any more, regardless of where it closes to, until you lift up lightly on the handle (which releases the locking mechanism). All of the slack is taken up automatically by the operational design of the headgate.

But most operators still think (because it's what they're used to on "every other chute they've ever used"), "I've got to slam that headgate shut", if they're operating it manually... and you CAN drive it closed hard by pushing down on the handle, but you just don't need to do that. You might be able to "speed up the closing action" slightly, by pushing down on the handle, but you for sure dont' ever need to "slam it shut"... it won't do you any more good than what it does pretty much on its own.

If it's all oiled up and working right like it's supposed to, just hold up on the handle to let her in, and when she gets her head through, let go, and you'll have her. As soon as you stop LIFTING on the handle, the locks will be engaged, so that the opening can't enlarge any futher... so if it's only open enough for her to get her head through... she won't be ABLE to get her shoulders through. (However, if you're still lifting on the handle, you're still disengaging the locks... so THEN she CAN force the doors open further, and escape... you just need to understand the mechanics of the design). Because of this, it's one of the best manual/automatic headgates out there, IMO. It doesn't require you to have to WORK at catching them. That said, I DO wish that you could operate the headgate from the rear of the chute. Currently, you'd have to be using it on automatic to be behind the animal as they enter the chute. I oil up that "trigger" so that it takes almost nothing to get it to trigger, and it works well too.

We work with a For-Most chute alot too, and like others have said, I think it's noisy, and kinda "crude" in fit and finish. That said, it does work too. The reason we use that one is because the Priefert chute just isn't tall enough, IMO... is a headbanger when going in to palpate cows. The For-Most is a little bit bigger chute too, for those monster cows.