Squeeze chute techniques

[inyati13]

My heifer stops at palp cage. Stands won't go in. She is very easy to move but balks at that point. What do you folks do? I got others doing this.

 

[dun]

My heifer stops at palp cage. Stands won't go in. She is very easy to move but balks at that point. What do you folks do? I got others doing this.

A tail crank will move them.

 

[greybeard]

My heifer stops at palp cage. Stands won't go in. She is very easy to move but balks at that point. What do you folks do? I got others doing this.

Not unusual especially if the palp cage has a frame down at the bottom--on the ground level. Mine do the same when approaching the sort gate--something about that 2" tubing they have to step over that confuses or spooks 'em.

 

[inyati13]

I like my new Priefert S04 but it does have the rail for the taigate. They balk at going over it. Maybe Priefert will take this suggestion for improvement

 

[dun]

Most of them will get used to it. We go from dirt in the alley to a 6 inch step up into the scale to a 6 inch stop down to dirt at the palpcage at the end of the scale to the step up for the chute. Some will neveer get the idea, just cows being cows. Most of ours stop just as the put their head into the head catch and stop there.

 

[cow pollinater]

When I wean my heifers and bring them down to the valley floor about once a week whenever they're handy I open the chute all the way up and send the whole bunch through at their own pace. By the time we bangs vaccinate they will line up and walk in calmly with no encouragement and so far they seem to keep that mindset once they get turned out in the hills.

 

[Alan]

When I wean my heifers and bring them down to the valley floor about once a week whenever they're handy I open the chute all the way up and send the whole bunch through at their own pace. By the time we bangs vaccinate they will line up and walk in calmly with no encouragement and so far they seem to keep that mindset once they get turned out in the hills.

That's just what I found was the best way to train them. Put the weaned heifers/calves in the working pen a couple of different times, open the chute all the way and walk away. After that they do line up at the chute and will also go into the working pen easier.

 

[tnwalkingred]

I second the tail crank! I like the idea of putting calves in the pen at weaning with all the gates open. I normally push mine through the alley and chute but don't catch them trying to accomplish the same thing. Opening the gates up and walking away may be even a better idea!

 

[greybeard]

I do the same, and change up the configuration on the sort gates once in a while--get em used to different things.
A couple still balk no matter what tho.

 

[boondocks]

AI tech showed me a neat trick. Take something sharp and prick them toward the back, just on either side of their spine, just a bit in front of the tail head. Moved several forward that were just wanting to hang out in the palp cage or chute...

 

[wbvs58]

Ron I take it you mean they won't move up and let you catch their head. I have a couple that won't stick their head through and get caught, what I do is to just let them stand there with the head gate closed while I get things ready and do anything I need to do to them that does not have to have their head caught like an injection, tail paint etc. I then open the head gate and they quietly walk through as they think I have finished with them and I can easily catch them if I need to.
When synchronising them for AI and they are going through on several days I only catch their head when I absolutely have to. I can calmly give them injections and pull CIDRS from the side and they quickly get the routine. If you catch their head every time they quickly get that routine too and get a bit cagey about poking it through but as I said if you let them stand and do what you have to they think you have finished and then quietly move through.
Ron, having quiet and petted cattle like you do it can make them a bit harder to move on with physical stimuli like the tail crank.
Ken

 

[inyati13]

Ron I take it you mean they won't move up and let you catch their head. I have a couple that won't stick their head through and get caught, what I do is to just let them stand there with the head gate closed while I get things ready and do anything I need to do to them that does not have to have their head caught like an injection, tail paint etc. I then open the head gate and they quietly walk through as they think I have finished with them and I can easily catch them if I need to.
When synchronising them for AI and they are going through on several days I only catch their head when I absolutely have to. I can calmly give them injections and pull CIDRS from the side and they quickly get the routine. If you catch their head every time they quickly get that routine too and get a bit cagey about poking it through but as I said if you let them stand and do what you have to they think you have finished and then quietly move through.
Ron, having quiet and petted cattle like you do it can make them a bit harder to move on with physical stimuli like the tail crank.
Ken

Ken, I was wanting to check the hematoma a second time. The first time she walked in and I caught her head. The second time, she got to the tailgate of the chute and stopped. So she was in the palp cage, with her head just through the tailgate. I would have cheched it there but the panel of the palp cage blocked the flank. I cannot hit them ( I use a riding crop to discipline them) and don't really want to crank their tail. I has to be painful.

I wonder, I have used a shock collar on Blue. Some people think shocking is painful but I have been shocked by my fence a number of times and I hate it but it does not cause pain. I have thought about getting a hot shot but will that make them tramatized to going in?

 

[highgrit]

When we work cows we use a Hot Shot. We tell them what to do and if they don't do right we bump them with the prod. A Hot Shot is a great tool if you don't over use it.

 

[snake67]

I wonder, I have used a shock collar on Blue. Some people think shocking is painful but I have been shocked by my fence a number of times and I hate it but it does not cause pain. I have thought about getting a hot shot but will that make them tramatized to going in?

In the end sometimes benign neglect is more appropriate.

As for traumatizing - you are going to send them up a chute to be killed sooner or later - one shot in the azz to make them move is not something that will make them try to kill you in the field two weeks later.

Make them move into the chute - or leave them to heal in the field.

Quiet cattle are not only more difficult to work - they are more dangerous to work. Sooner or later you will get slammed when you least expect it.

Sometimes meddling does more harm than good.

Best to all

Bez

 

[highgrit]

I have bumped them to get them in the chute. And fed them cubes when they got caught at the head gate. A Hot Shot won't make calm cows wild, or visa-versa.

 

[Alan]

I'm not following the philosophy that cranking the tail is too harsh but hitting them with a hot shot is not.

While my cattle do not fear me I have them so I can walk among them, but they move out of my way when I get in their space, about an arm length away. Just how I want it. Also the cow I always look for, out of fear for my safety, is our 2 yr old bottle raised heifer. She doesn't move out of the way, nor does she move well in the chute. She has no respect and no fear, she won't come after me as an anger cow, but I fear she will treat me like another cow and give me a good head butt to get me out of the way. In my eyes the most tame cow we have is the most dangerous cow we have.

 

[inyati13]

Thanks to all. I will buy a Hot Shot. What that will do for me since I work alone, I can walk back behind the balking cow, get her moving with a charge from the Hot Shot and get back to the chute to finish the operation. If I can get them in the chute and close the tailgate, their options are greatly reduced. Tailcranking is ok but but really takes me further out of position. Glad to get Highgrit's comment that the Hot Shot will not create Chute Shy cows.

 

[inyati13]

I'm not following the philosophy that cranking the tail is too harsh but hitting them with a hot shot is not.

While my cattle do not fear me I have them so I can walk among them, but they move out of my way when I get in their space, about an arm length away. Just how I want it. Also the cow I always look for, out of fear for my safety, is our 2 yr old bottle raised heifer. She doesn't move out of the way, nor does she move well in the chute. She has no respect and no fear, she won't come after me as an anger cow, but I fear she will treat me like another cow and give me a good head butt to get me out of the way. In my eyes the most tame cow we have is the most dangerous cow we have.

Alan, only been doing this over 3 years now. I had the Robertson County University of Kentucky County Agent at my farm today. She said I have the tamest and best conditioned herd she has seen in the county. In fact, I received the comment that I cannot do it any better. Most of my cows will even let a stranger put their hands on them. But all of my cows (w/o exception) view me as the dominant member of the herd. I groom my cows on a daily basis, maybe missed doing it 10 times in the last 365 days. I discipline them with a riding crop, they get a firm slap and hear the loud noise made my the leather pads at the front of the crop. Does not hurt them but they know it is a demonstration of my dominance. I believe from my experience that the greatest risk is getting run over. I realize a head butt would cause a disabling injury or death. But since all of my cows are tame, then that makes them all dangerous. I watch for danger and monitor it constantly. But everyone working cows are at risk by the nature of the vocation. A couple of my cows move out of my way but most stand assuming I am going to scratch or groom them. I, therefore, treat them all as an equal risk. The only injury has been when they step on my foot. Thus, I wear safety toed boots with an instep guard. None of what I have stated is intended to diminish your input and I thank you for it.

 

[branguscowgirl]

When my halter cows decide that they do not want to go down the alley or enter the chute, no amount of tail cranking is going to move them! I agree, the gentle cows are the absolute worst. I always give them a chance on there own, and with a grain reward first. But then they get the hot shot! :devil2:

 

[cow pollinater]

The key to a hotshot on gentle cattle is to give them a warning. Go through your normal routine with them and then when they're still not moving poke them hard with it without zapping them and then as a final poke give a little zap. Before to long your normal routine will be plenty and a poke without the zap will get most of them moving.