gitnby said:
lookin to get priefert cattle sweep...premier open would probably work ....I only have 60 head to work anyone got one .?.....and would the rough stock be worth the extra money? know it is heavier made....was wondering if bull could bend the premier?
I have one. 90degree, just like in the video below, but I can tell you, those cows have been worked in that sweep or one like it lots of times. It works ok with my beefmasters and CharX cows and I have not had any trouble with the sweep itself, or anything 'downstream' from the sweep area. All my problems come in the holding area right before the sweep.
I like the chain together aspect because it more easily allows setup on uneven ground, but I use a 24" long pointed bar to pull the chains tight.
Can a big bull or momma cow bend the panels? Yes. I shipped a lazy BM bull that weighed about 1600lbs a few years ago because of low libido and had him penned overnight with one cow. She came in heat the night after that same afternoon I penned them and she wanted nothing to do with him..evidently preferred the Char/sim bull I had at the time. go figure.. When I put him in the holding area ahead of the sweep, he picked that minute to summon up some testosterone and turn into a bull and ran 3 of us out of the holding pen ahead of the sweep, bent out some of the panels in the holding pen but once inside the sweep, gave us no more trouble loading.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zj5nTbNJYW8
Watch about .35 seconds into the video and you will see this:
After the guy spooks the cow down off the panel you can see the panel has bent, but I'm not sure other brand panels wouldn't do the same.
I've seen some (brand unknown) sweeps and panels that really turned into a wreck with less abuse than what is seen in that video.
I started with their basic 90deg sweep and 12' long alley and built around it, lengthening the alley to 22' long with a Preifert sorting gate and a 45 deg turn, so I could choose whether to send them down to the headgate/squeeze, release them out of the alley, or send them to load out. It's worked well for me but I rarely ever have more than 40 hd total at any given time, usually between 25-32 head, calves not included.
I try to work only 10--15 at a time.
some calves I was getting ready to vaccinate a year or so ago..and how I have it set up.
Put down some good 8" posts on the outside of the Premier panels on any holding area that might get pressure. One of the best tings I did with mine.