New Cow Pens
- Thread starter djswin
- Start date
Help Support CattleToday:
I built a holding pen/corral a couple of years ago using wood posts and plank boards similar to what you have on your plan. I decided to put heavy wire cattle panels on up after realizing how easily those planks break.
M-5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
- Messages
- 7,338
- Reaction score
- 12
First thing I see is no way to close up/ crowd them in the load out chute . same problem with getting them down the alley no way to make them go down.
M-5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
- Messages
- 7,338
- Reaction score
- 12
Also no way to run one back To the pens after the squeeze chute. I like a safety net incase one slips thru I can just move them back to the working pen.
TexasBred
Well-known member
I always wanted another pen in front of the headgate/squeeze chute for the cows to exit into after you finished working them yet still be caught.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
TexasBred":oeplvrf0 said:
That is exactly what I did after thirty years the cow can be loaded cut back to the pen a two acre lot or the pasture from the chute.
There is six gates on this chute system, chute is 30 inches wide I want hair dragging when they come down it. The majority of train wrecks happen in bad chute set ups as M5 pointed out on the diagram that load out sucks.
M-5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
- Messages
- 7,338
- Reaction score
- 12
For what it's worth I like to load out thru the chute/head catch. Anything that has to go for a ride is familiar with going down the chute alley therefore they go without issue. A strategically placed gate to be able to back trailer in is all you need.
JMJ Farms
Well-known member
djswin":tnz2ljda said:
I sure ain't gonna tell you how to do it, but do keep in mind that 1.5" seems thick till 1200+/- pounds hits it. Had a 500 pound heifer come out of the chute a while back and demolish a portable corral panel. (It was a cheap light built one though) Stuck her head under it and you can guess the rest. Folded it like a lawn chair. One of the best lots I've got is on a rented farm. Old wooden fence, half rotten, layered with 6' high heavy, heavy gauge chain link. When they hit it, they just bounce back :lol2: Ugly but it works.
M-5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
- Messages
- 7,338
- Reaction score
- 12
Nothing wrong with that. I do basically the same thing. Mainly because I like to load out thru the head catch.djswin":xnign15t said:
artesianspringsfarm
Well-known member
M-5":2a7y15qw said:
This immediately jumped out to me as well. It's a real life-saver to be able to re-route them back into your working flow or sort them after the chute into multiple groups. In fact, where will the cattle go after the chute at all in this design? Not seeing a gate your temp panels will move them towards.
You are going to be replacing those boards, get 2 x 6's at LEAST, if you are set on wood. I didn't do the math but you better bolt them up pretty close together too. 4 won't do, 6 at least. make sure nothing can get a head through or under any gaps.
Your loading area is confusing to me, but either way it should be narrower or have a sweep gate of some kind.
Your loading area is confusing to me, but either way it should be narrower or have a sweep gate of some kind.
Caustic Burno
Well-known member
Hippie Rancher":2kiscjcj said:
Wood is not the way to go unless you have cattle panel on it as well.
Sooner or later one will test your pens.
I started with just wood then added panel will hold tough tigers
decided I was tired of working on pens and went to drill stem.
SteppedInIt
Well-known member
I have wooden pens. 1"x6" planks nailed on inside of 8" post. They are strong. I do have six planks high. I am not sure the spacing between planks right off but would say 4" to 6". Your post spacing appears to be 5' spacing so I would assume that would be pretty stout. I too would do some rethinking on your loading chute design.
Y'all have talked me into putting cattle panels under the 5 oak boards. It should only cost about $200 more or so. I may rework the load out and the sweep to make sure that the gate and curved wall will work as a sweep tub.
JW IN VA
Well-known member
+1M-5":2z1la59x said:
Ebenezer
Well-known member
Just put in a set of pens. Used 7 bar heavy panels and 6 bar bull gates. Set posts as needed 4' in the ground. Pretty much a U shape with the entry leg at 16' wide and the tightening towards the back of the chute at 12' wide parallel to the 16' and a cut gate every 16'. Can exit animals back to the 16' section or load out to the other side in some 12' X 16' cuts. Sweep gate at the back of the chute to keep me from getting kicked anymore, ... I hope! For cows and sheep.
x whatever on the load-out
x whatever on the re-route out of squeeze chute
It wouldn't be hard to have a 20x20 lot where the "56post"-etc text is.
That would allow you to keep anything separate and out of the way while working the herd. (i.e. We often have a few feeder/beef calves "in the way" when we need the lots to work calves, or a doctoring project, or pair needing help, etc)
You must be short.
We occasionally walk our calves down the alley and those cross members would need to be higher.
x whatever on the re-route out of squeeze chute
It wouldn't be hard to have a 20x20 lot where the "56post"-etc text is.
That would allow you to keep anything separate and out of the way while working the herd. (i.e. We often have a few feeder/beef calves "in the way" when we need the lots to work calves, or a doctoring project, or pair needing help, etc)
You must be short.
We occasionally walk our calves down the alley and those cross members would need to be higher.
