It’s time for a chute

[Mark Reynolds]

Well the SO4 is bigger than the economy. Look at the specs. Plus there was a thread on here a week or so back where the board poster was complaining about his Priefert not being big enough. I believe he had the economy model.

Saying that, I believe the SO4 needs to be about 4" bigger in all directions especially on the length.

Fair enough. I am not familiar with the differences in the chutes. However, neither am I familiar with her animals other than what she has indicated. I do think that the offer that @simme has made is very generous and caring. If I'm picturing @AmandaQ animals correctly, this is a perfect fit! @Warren Allison is quite correct, go get the chute and invest somewhere around $100 in a high quality piece of thick, marine grade (saltwater tolerant) plywood for a new base.

 

[GoWyo]

@AmandaQ I think maybe you should just halter break all your cows so you can just catch them and tie them up when they need vet work done. They are living the life of horses, so treat them that way.

 

[farmerjan]

Amanda, go get the chute from @simme . That is a very generous offer... you can add some rails if you need more containment... put a new heavy duty plywood floor in it,,,, their weight standing on it will hold it down... maybe chain to a couple of the barn posts on one side???
Get in your truck, take a day trip... and talk to someone that is VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE about cattle... He might even be able to answer some of those "stupid questions" that none of us like to let others know that we want to ask... PM him and DO IT.

 

[Caustic Burno]

I thought I could get by without a chute but I need one. Please share the logistics of what goes with it. I don't have an indoor barn. I need it to hold a 1500 lb cow and a 800 lb cow and hopefully my calf eventually. Remember I make zero bucks off my girls so the cheaper the better. I found someone that makes them nearby for $1200. It could be a head catch, not really sure the difference. But I'm struggling with what is needed once it gets here. Is it concreted in? Do I need railings. It's hard to buy something you have never seen in action. Trying not to get bamboozled in this process. And as always, thanks for sharing your expertise! (A calf cuddle picture just because!)

It's a bovine not a house cat.
You shouldn't buy the first one without the infrastructure to treat or doctor.
A working pen, chute and head gate are minimal at best.

 

[suzorse]

I just have a powder river manual head gate mounted to railroad ties out side , with gates on the sides , I train mine to put their head threw with grain as I only open it enough for that , and have corral panels as a kind of chute , I also bought blocking grooming chutes that are in the barn and also train with feed , so they will run in to eat and I just lock them in for any vet work , the one the Holstein is in was built by FFA kids and I got it from someone that used it at shows for Herefords , bought everything off craigslist

Suzanne

 

[Stonewall Joe]

?? You typed 'root'. I'm guessing you meant rot instead? I'm picturing fence posts with new branches and leaves growing out of them if they are rooting.

that's what I meant, green locust posts could sprout

 

[Stonewall Joe]

Amanda, go get the chute from @simme . That is a very generous offer... you can add some rails if you need more containment... put a new heavy duty plywood floor in it,,,, their weight standing on it will hold it down... maybe chain to a couple of the barn posts on one side???
Get in your truck, take a day trip... and talk to someone that is VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE about cattle... He might even be able to answer some of those "stupid questions" that none of us like to let others know that we want to ask... PM him and DO IT.

only suggestion I'd make is use planks fr floor with some cleats, plywood can get very slick

 

[AmandaQ]

I have an old Powder River grooming chute. It might fit your needs for gentle cattle that just need to be kept from moving around. A heavy duty stanchion type head catch on the front. Adjustable height side rails. Could use a new plywood floor. The group here can comment on whether it is suitable for you. Was used to groom show cattle. Not ideal, but can't beat the price. Free. About 10 miles from Lavonia, Ga.View attachment 58215View attachment 58216View attachment 58217

@simme this feels like Christmas! Thank you and yes, I would love your chute and to talk to you about cattle! I've spent the weekend working a tour of homes so this is like a fantastic Christmas present! Thank you so much!!

 

[AmandaQ]

only suggestion I'd make is use planks fr floor with some cleats, plywood can get very slick

What are planks with cleats? Does that mean solid wood planks like oak?

 

[Brute 23]

I did not read all this thread but some thing to remember is spoiled cows are spoiled cows. Just because you buy a squeeze chute does not mean they will go in it. You can build all then pens and infrastructure in the world leading up to it but if doesn't mean they will go in it either. Cattle get very smart very fast. Ask yourself what you will do when they refuse to go in the pens, refuse to go in the squeeze, etc.

There is a reason some cattle just get culled for being a pia.

 

[Warren Allison]

only suggestion I'd make is use planks fr floor with some cleats, plywood can get very slick

This was a grooming chute, but @AmandaQ won't be painting hooves, etc, to get ready for the show. No need to have a floor in it at all.

 

[Travlr]

This was a grooming chute, but @AmandaQ won't be painting hooves, etc, to get ready for the show. No need to have a floor in it at all.

Something needs to anchor the stanchion. It either needs to be attached to a building, have posts in the ground, or a floor so the cow is working against it's own weight.

 

[Warren Allison]

Something needs to anchor the stanchion. It either needs to be attached to a building, have posts in the ground, or a floor so the cow is working against it's own weight.

She could probably put it in her barn/shed thing maybe? Anchor it to the barn posts?

 

[AmandaQ]

It's a bovine not a house cat.
You shouldn't buy the first one without the infrastructure to treat or doctor.
A working pen, chute and head gate are minimal at best.

The first one was a pet that needed a home pronto. I stepped up and took her, bought her a friend in a hurry. That's why I wasn't prepared. I think you are right though, should have been ready but life turned my one free cow into two free cows that have cost me way more than I paid for the one I bought! If I had done it any other way, I wouldn't have the sweetest calf right now!

 

[Travlr]

The first one was a pet that needed a home pronto. I stepped up and took her, bought her a friend in a hurry. That's why I wasn't prepared. I think you are right though, should have been ready but life turned my one free cow into two free cows that have cost me way more than I paid for the one I bought! If I had done it any other way, I wouldn't have the sweetest calf right now!

I just gotta ask, as I'm pretty sure the thought has crossed several minds by now... Are you a vegan? Not really my business but I thought I'd throw it out there.
And just to say it... I don't have a problem with vegans as long as they don't use all the cock and bull that most vegans think is real.

 

[AmandaQ]

I just gotta ask, as I'm pretty sure the thought has crossed several minds by now... Are you a vegan? Not really my business but I thought I'd throw it out there.
And just to say it... I don't have a problem with vegans as long as they don't use all the cock and bull that most vegans think is real.

Nope, not even close! I eat beef tacos every Tuesday, love a good medium rare filet and think chili needs beans and meat! I just really like cows, they bring me tranquility and joy. My great aunt and uncle ran cattle on their Harrah Oklahoma property until they were in their late 80s. They laughed at me for over 40 years because I would come see them so I could sit in the pasture and make friends with their cows, which they treated well but like a commodity for their business. I lived in an area of Georgia called "horse country" and heard over and over how expensive horses were. I never knew any other cattlemen but my great uncle Zip (who is in his 90s but has dementia so isn't able to discuss the financial hardships of cattle ownership.) Once we moved here to Madison and learned to take care of our land without animals, I started looking for what we could get. Goats escape, sheep need to be moved a lot, donkeys are loud, pigs are messy, ostrich are mean and could jump our fences, my husband drew the line at any girlie looking animals. A barrel racer told us "Horses take your money and cows make you money". Not the way I'm doing it! A woman on Facebook was in a bind and needed a home for her pet cow that was being evicted from her new home at a cattle ranch because the cow was barren. I offered to take her cow but knew she needed a friend. That lady gave me the name of someone who sells cows and that nice guy picked up the free one, brought me both cows and went on his way. I've been winging it since August! That free cow wasn't barren, two makes three and here we are. Pneumonia, sepsis, vertical hoof cracks, the dreaded cow lice; I'm learning as I go! This message board has so much knowledge and everyone readily shares it with me. Ranchers take good care of their animals and cows are food for the entire world (except India, where filth is everywhere and cows have to eat garbage on the side of the road.) My cows belong to me because I was looking for bovine friends, I have no judgement for the people who feed us all.

 

[Travlr]

Nope, not even close! I eat beef tacos every Tuesday, love a good medium rare filet and think chili needs beans and meat! I just really like cows, they bring me tranquility and joy. My great aunt and uncle ran cattle on their Harrah Oklahoma property until they were in their late 80s. They laughed at me for over 40 years because I would come see them so I could sit in the pasture and make friends with their cows, which they treated well but like a commodity for their business. I lived in an area of Georgia called "horse country" and heard over and over how expensive horses were. I never knew any other cattlemen but my great uncle Zip (who is in his 90s but has dementia so isn't able to discuss the financial hardships of cattle ownership.) Once we moved here to Madison and learned to take care of our land without animals, I started looking for what we could get. Goats escape, sheep need to be moved a lot, donkeys are loud, pigs are messy, ostrich are mean and could jump our fences, my husband drew the line at any girlie looking animals. A barrel racer told us "Horses take your money and cows make you money". Not the way I'm doing it! A woman on Facebook was in a bind and needed a home for her pet cow that was being evicted from her new home at a cattle ranch because the cow was barren. I offered to take her cow but knew she needed a friend. That lady gave me the name of someone who sells cows and that nice guy picked up the free one, brought me both cows and went on his way. I've been winging it since August! That free cow wasn't barren, two makes three and here we are. Pneumonia, sepsis, vertical hoof cracks, the dreaded cow lice; I'm learning as I go! This message board has so much knowledge and everyone readily shares it with me. Ranchers take good care of their animals and cows are food for the entire world (except India, where filth is everywhere and cows have to eat garbage on the side of the road.) My cows belong to me because I was looking for bovine friends, I have no judgement for the people who feed us all.

So now I gotta tell my story (a little) about communing with cows. I'd go out to irrigate and take a book, and I'd spend some time reading or taking a nap under the trees, and the cows would come over and investigate. Eventually they would bring their calves and (maybe?) tell them to lay down and take a nap a few feet away from me. You know how cows have a babysitter when the calves all nap next to each other? Seems I was the designated one fairly often. I like my cows too... but they are food for me and not pets. Of course there are those that were my favorites.

 

[AmandaQ]

So now I gotta tell my story (a little) about communing with cows. I'd go out to irrigate and take a book, and I'd spend some time reading or taking a nap under the trees, and the cows would come over and investigate. Eventually they would bring their calves and (maybe?) tell them to lay down and take a nap a few feet away from me. You know how cows have a babysitter when the calves all nap next to each other? Seems I was the designated one fairly often. I like my cows too... but they are food for me and not pets. Of course there are those that were my favorites.

Your cows knew you could be trusted!!

 

[Stonewall Joe]

This was a grooming chute, but @AmandaQ won't be painting hooves, etc, to get ready for the show. No need to have a floor in it at all.

probably a good idea not to

 

[simme]

The grooming chute has to have a floor. Half a sheet of plywood will serve the purpose. It would be a train wreck to put an animal in a grooming chute without a floor. Unless you put considerable effort into securely anchoring all four corners to an immovable object. Based on the principle that you can't lift something that you are standing on.