Loading steers

[joebuck]

When you load up feeder steers on your trailer, do you open 3' slide door or do you swing the tailgate open on a 16' trailer.
Thanks. Joe Buck

 

[kenny thomas]

When you load up feeder steers on your trailer, do you open 3' slide door or do you swing the tailgate open on a 16' trailer.
Thanks. Joe Buck

If your loading in a space as wide as the trailer swing the tailgate. Use the slide door if loading out of a narrow chute.

 

[TCRanch]

What @kenny thomas said. I almost always load them through the chute, hence the sliding door. Which also helps if one (or some) are trying to turn around and unload - just slide it shut. But if I back into the corral, the door is wide open, and I use the feed bunks as a makeshift alley. Not that they don't ever jump the bunks (it happens) but if I go slow and don't push too hard, they load fairly easy.

 

[joebuck]

I use gates and hay bales to make a narrow chute but the last few times had little trouble loading, got me think if open gate would be easier.

 

[kenny thomas]

I use gates and hay bales to make a narrow chute but the last few times had little trouble loading, got me think if open gate would be easier.

Cows dont like going into tight spaces. Heck im the same way.

 

[sstterry]

Cows dont like going into tight spaces. Heck im the same way.

I can't even get into tight spaces!

 

[Dave]

I have never loaded one using the slider. But it wouldn't be possible to get my trailer to the front of my chute. If you are making a alley to load out of if possible put a corner in it so they don't see it as a dead end until close. Also if possible have a gate which you can swing behind them to keep them from turning around.

 

[Ky hills]

I can't even get into tight spaces!

I resemble that too

 

[Travlr]

I resemble that too

More than I like to admit...

 

[jltrent]

I made a place level with the ground to trailer and where I can swing the complete rear door open and a super heavy duty gate, I can bring up behind them. They are in there before they know it. I remember before I rebuilt my corral it could be very stressful.

 

[Brute 23]

I use gates and hay bales to make a narrow chute but the last few times had little trouble loading, got me think if open gate would be easier.

What issues did you run in to loading out the chute?

I load out regular 10' gates some times. On one place we had some steers on the chute was so bad we just loaded out the big pen that had a 10' gate. I have another little place we put a couple heifers where we just load out a 10' gate also.

You have to know the cattle pretty good and be able to read them. It takes the right amount pressure and patience at the same time. You are also making a human wall so there is a balance between standing your ground and not getting hurt.

 

[Dave]

When I built the one here I sloped it slightly so that gravity holds my trailer door open. We have loaded some first class nasty cows with my system. No cows or people have ever been killed while using it.
The first picture is the gate leading into the loading alley. Note the corner. Second picture taken from the corner. Trailer is backed in by the post to the left. The trailer door swings o the right blocking off that side. With the trailer snug to the post on the left there is about a foot and half to the right for a person to get through. The silver gate swings against the fence to the left and is swung across behind the cows forcing them into the trailer. I have thought about installing a gate at the corner which could be swung shut trapping them close to the trailer. That would come in handy on the real nasty ones.

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

I load thru the slider. Cows come out of the sweep tub and go straight into the chute or swing a gate and they make a 90 into the trailer. With a backup bar or two they have no choice to head straight into the trailer. Then I have a portable ramp I can put at the end to load a cattle pot.

 

[Lucky]

Prefer to load through the slider or 1 of the gates if the trailer has butterfly gates. Seems to be easier to close the gate quickly and safely. When loading in odd places you do what you can to funnel them in the trailer though. We load out of a chute or load alley 95% of the time. About the only time we don't is at the vets office were we have to open the entire back gate or gates and hope for the best.

 

[TCRanch]

I was loading my cull cows a few weeks ago and loading from the barn is always a challenge because there's no alley, just a trap large enough to fit 2 or 3 cows. Back gate to the trailer is wide open and I generally have to push/squeeze/"encourage" them to get in the trailer. Without getting smashed if one gets rank. Had all loaded but one and she would NOT get all the way in the trailer, in spite of tail twisting and dumping cubes in the trailer. Had the door against her, pushing as hard as I could, and finally resorted to reaching down and yanking on a teat. The element of surprise and she jumped right in. Clearly not OSHA approved but sometimes you have to get creative.