new cattle crush

cuddlylad

Think of doing a new cattle crush, see drawing attached(not sure if i attached it correctly)

i have alot of new gates from a re-vamp of old crush 3 years ago so will be trying to use these if possible.

open to all comments and suggestions.

new shute will be proper crush sections from o'donovans or someone like that, as said have all the gates and thinking of using cattle slatts sat inbetween RSJ for new wall

cuddlylad

right, i didnt attach it, can anyone explain to me how to attach correctly?? i have it save as a JPEG??

Mad4simmental

cuddlylad wrote: »

right, i didnt attach it, can anyone explain to me how to attach correctly?? i have it save as a JPEG??

On the bottem of the box where you type there should be in blue attach file (on iPhone anyway) if that's not there go into settings on your phone on Safari and make sure JavaScript is turned on. I had this problem a few days ago. You might have to take a screen shot of it and up load it as a picture.

Base price

The way I do it and I don't know if it is the correct way is to click on the paperclip symbol at the top of the box when you are typing a reply.
Choose upload file from your computer, click select file. Select the file, click open. The click on Upload File (in the blue box) wait for the file to upload.
It will show the current attachments and you can remove it if you want.

cuddlylad

here we go!!!

Nekarsulm

Do you need to make one side of the crush into a wall? Access both sides very handy. Can you make it any longer than 20 foot? Looking at the drawing, the top left corner is at a 45 degree angle. Is this necessary, or could you get an extra few feet of crush length?
You have a 12 foot gate pivoting so that the end meets the crush end. Could this be hung at the end of the crush instead, to confine the cattle and force them into the crush end? Just thoughts.

Also, will the crush be roofed over? Its a great comfort if you can. Keep the roof at least 14 foot over the crush in case you ever had to lift an animal out with a loader. As much natural light as possible, and a row of fluorescent's in waterproof housings makes testing a lot easier, especially in short winter days.

Mad4simmental

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Looking at the drawing, the top left corner is at a 45 degree angle. Is this necessary, or could you get an extra few feet of crush length?
You have a 12 foot gate pivoting so that the end meets the crush end. Could this be hung at the end of the crush instead, to confine the cattle and force them into the crush


I was thinking the same thing with the angle to make it longer. With the long gate I wouldn't make that the end of the crush. If it gets a good kick the man behind it gets a 12 foot gate flying at him. Happend me before, they fly at you. For the end of the crush I'd just put a small gate the with of the crush.

cuddlylad

thanks for thoughts nekarsulm,

fair point on the 12 foot gate, that would be a good idea, i was thinking ease of acces for who ever puts the cattle in the shute to get back out after backing gate is closed.

on the wall, i am looking to keep costs as low as possible and that seems to be the lowest cost option.

lenght - max il ever have will be 15 suckler cows and calves so reckon would fit 4 in the shute??? i would however be open to the idea of having it longer

roof?? the sky above is my roof!! we're made of hardy stuff here in the bog, tbh would be out of budget limit.

cuddlylad

on the top left coner, i though an angle there instead of a coner would be easier get them up the shute

Nekarsulm

Fair enough on the wall situation. What you could do would be put your head gate 2 or 3 foot out from the end of the crush on two good sturdy pillars, and have a 2 or 3 foot gate each side, bridging the gap between the gate and the rest of the crush. Fierce handy to be able to get at both sides of a cows head and neck. Also regarding the back gate, I used a heavy chain (off a muck spreader) welded to the back post, that you drop into a V shaped bit of metal welded to the back gate then even if the last cow/weanling dosen't go all the way in, you can drop the chain into the V and hold them. the last few inches trying to shoot a bolt into a hole can defeat you! Will stick up a picture.

Mad4simmental

cuddlylad wrote: »

on the top left coner, i though an angle there instead of a coner would be easier get them up the shute

Ya your right it probably would be. It's looks fine other than that. You probably know all reddy but leave it wide annof so when the cows are heavy pregnant you can get them up Easley annof. Old crush here that needs changing for that reason.

cuddlylad

yes throw up a pic please, want to get it as right as possible.

was going to do a drop down or sliding back gate?

i saw some crush that have the headgate out at an angle from the rest of the shute with gate either side so could get at either side of the beast! will probobaly do something like that alrite

cuddlylad

Mad4simmental wrote: »

Ya your right it probably would be. It's looks fine other than that. You probably know all reddy but leave it wide annof so when the cows are heavy pregnant you can get them up Easley annof. Old crush here that needs changing for that reason.

the pregancy issue is the main reason i need a new crush (safe sex how are ya!!)
used to fattem hfrs, crush is only suite to that!

what is the width needed for an incalf cow?

Nekarsulm

Here are 2 pics of the back gate.

cuddlylad

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Here are 2 pics of the back gate.

fair point, well made!! makes sense, as you say its always that inch to get her in!

Nekarsulm

Of course then there will be lots of room, so you can then tighten it up a few more links.

onyerbikepat

Are the RSJ's for the uprights galvanised? Down low near the ground is where they will rust the most, so build up a small square of concrete there with a small slope. That will keep them clean and so last longer.
A short forcing gate at the chute entrance is very handy, even a small 5ft one.
As said already, I'd avoid that corner on the top left too. Cattle will all head in there and not want to budge.

Zr105

Id agree with neck and hang the 12 ft at back of the crush at the crush end if you can, that way you can swing it over to close off the crush and run cattle straight up to the 8ft loading gate.

Id also hang the 10ft gate the opposite way around as you'll be able to open it around into the pen and sweep cattle around by the wall and into the forcing pen, otherwise youl be trying to get them in then grab the gate and get it shut while trying to block off the full pen.

At back of crush a sliding gate would be better than a guillotine type, guillotine could be heavy to lift and also a risk of it dropping down on someone/something when you dont want it to

dh1985

On exit of the crush gate will the cattle still be in the holding yard or does the gate open out into a field. Whats the overall lenght of the available space along the chute side of the yard? Also I would have though it would be cheaper to buy piping for the side wall of the crush instead of the slats. If the rsj is gonna be there anyway could you not burn holes in it with the gas and slide the piping through the web of the rsj. This would also aid in accessibility to animals from the far side of the crush if the requirement every arose

agriman27

I have found that sheeting gates is a great benefit to keep cattle moving in handling yards and try and keep the crush as the only escape

lakill Farm

to build the walls along the opposite side of the cush gates what will block will you use?

9 inch cavity? is there a solid 9inch block did i hear?

Muckit

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Here are 2 pics of the back gate.

Now that's one of the best ideas I've seen in a while and is worthy of a gold medal in the guntering thread! So simple, yet so effective. And it happens with everyone you've the crush full and have to let one back, then they aren't packed in and not as easy work on them. Thanks for posting!

Nekarsulm

Thanks Muckit, went to an auction of cows at Lally's up in Meath once, and every gate in the place was done like that, where I first saw it.

Cavanjack

Need a new crush here also and am going to build it in a green field site behind a shed. Does anyone know the correct size for a collecting area in comparison to crush length. Eg. Crush holds 8 cows. What size collecting pen is needed?

lakill Farm

Cavanjack wrote: »

Need a new crush here also and am going to build it in a green field site behind a shed. Does anyone know the correct size for a collecting area in comparison to crush length. Eg. Crush holds 8 cows. What size collecting pen is needed?

Im planning on here where the crush race is 26.5ft long. I am splitting 36foot the lenght of the crush into 3 pens of 12ft each.

It will mean the cattle will do a full loop and back out then all together. easier to load trailer also when in smaller groups of 10/12 yearlings.

Muckit

Only had a quick look at the drawings and other people's replies but here's my two pence worth....

I see you have an existing wall at bottom of drawing. Is it possible to build the crush along this? 20' is short for a crush. Ours is 25' and I would love if it was longer. Ideally it should take the full of your slatted pen. It would make it very handy as one would follow the other up the crush. It's the one or two that don't fit up that are the hardest to work with as they have time to see and think about what you are at.

Like what Iakill is planning, it is great to have a holding pen for cattle as they leave the crush. There might be one you need to run up again or just to bring the bunch back into a shed etc ...

Two 6' gates are better than 12' in cattle pens as far as I can see. The bigger the gate, the bigger the swing. You need to open a 12' wider to make a space to get an animal out, then if a one you don't want goes to run out, you end up wedging then in the gap as you close the gate.

I know you have gates already, but nothing good ever comes out of a plan that is based around making use of stuff you have already as the ideal solution often compromised.

cuddlylad

dh1985 wrote: »

On exit of the crush gate will the cattle still be in the holding yard or does the gate open out into a field. Whats the overall lenght of the available space along the chute side of the yard? Also I would have though it would be cheaper to buy piping for the side wall of the crush instead of the slats. If the rsj is gonna be there anyway could you not burn holes in it with the gas and slide the piping through the web of the rsj. This would also aid in accessibility to animals from the far side of the crush if the requirement every arose

the exit/head gate will go straigh out into the yard.

my idea is to be able to open the cruch sections if an animal needs to be drafted out and let back into the holding pens via the 8ft gate at the top.

getting 3rd in slatts for around €40 each, reckon piping would be more expensive?? in my opinion something soilid is better cos will stop them sticking there head out the other side which can be a righ pain when doseing or giving bullets!

lakill Farm wrote: »

to build the walls along the opposite side of the cush gates what will block will you use?

9 inch cavity? is there a solid 9inch block did i hear?

going to use cattle slats to make the side walls

Muckit wrote: »

Now that's one of the best ideas I've seen in a while and is worthy of a gold medal in the guntering thread! So simple, yet so effective. And it happens with everyone you've the crush full and have to let one back, then they aren't packed in and not as easy work on them. Thanks for posting!

great idea, i think i will actually use it and hang a swinging back gate