Branding calves

[TXBobcat]

With only a headgate and a chute, does anyone have some good ideas on how to restrain 300-500 lbs calves when branding?

The setup I have is a 30" wide by 16' chute made of pipe. It's really a loading chute, but I plan to build a 24" wide working chute inside the pen later. At the end, we have a Priefert headgate. We tried our new brand out on a freezer beef calf this weekend, and it looked OK, but the calf moved to much with just a headgate and someone holding the tail up and pushed against the side of the chute. I was thinking that after we get the calves in the headgate, we could run a strap/rope around the mid section of the calf and pull it to the side of the chute while the person on the opposite side brands? Any other ideas?

 

[dun]

We always branded with the calves laid out on the ground. It seemed easier to restrain them and hold them still so the brand didn't get blotched. Even with s squeeze it seems to me that it would be the best mehtod.

dun

 

[greatgerts]

For the time being, you could also put a gate on the other side of the calf and snug it against them. It helps some, but not as good as a tight squeeze chute.