When we were first here there was only a head gate and a home made one at that.
We used to look at cattle crushes (Aussie for squeeze chutes) at clearance sales. It didn't seem to matter what condition they were in, or even if they were home made, the price would go through the roof. Then we have to add GST on top of that and then figure out how to get them home.
At a show we came across new cattle crushes that really were not that expensive. Plus with the price the GST and delivery were included. The crushes were new so in much better nick than those at the clearance sales and as I said much cheaper.
The one we bought is all manual. But with it I can do whatever I want, and I can do it by myself with no ones help.
I can introduce a calf to a cow safely by just opening the bottom. I can ear tag or dehorn or put powder in their eyes if they get blight. I can inject or quieten or tend to wounds. I can ear tag or put tail tags on and not have to worry about getting kicked.
Yes this property went for 100 years, being a dairy and then having beef cattle. I do not regret our decision to put in the cattle crush and would do it again on another property even if I only had one cow.
As I said you can get them fairly cheap. It means that they are mechanical and have no automatic bits but they are still invaluable.
We also put a roof on ours so that we are not in the sun when working with the cattle.