New Crush

Count Mondego

Lads,

Pricing and spec'ing a new crush race with gates etc. Have pricing form the following suppliers

O'Donovans in Cork
O'Donnells in Tipp
Cashel Engineering in Tipp

Any experience with any of the 3 regarding build quality? Need it to be heavy duty as it will be for suckler cows.

Deepsouthwest

Count Mondego wrote: »

Lads,

Pricing and spec'ing a new crush race with gates etc. Have pricing form the following suppliers

O'Donovans in Cork
O'Donnells in Tipp
Cashel Engineering in Tipp

Any experience with any of the 3 regarding build quality? Need it to be heavy duty as it will be for suckler cows.

Have dealt with O'Donovan eng in cork a lot over the last 10yrs or so. Their product and service is always first class, top quality stuff used there, but they tend to be on the expensive side. I suppose u get what u pay for.

Count Mondego

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

Have dealt with O'Donovan eng in cork a lot over the last 10yrs or so. Their product and service is always first class, top quality stuff used there, but they tend to be on the expensive side. I suppose u get what u pay for.

They are good. One problem I have with their design is that to have the crush a bit higher than the standard 4' 10" you can get an extension, but this angles in over the animal rather than straight up.

Mac Taylor

Count M, how many animals is it for? I'm looking to put in a crush and pen in an outfarm for max 20 cows plus calves, priced a 20ft crush with basic headgate for €550. Have main crush at home, anyone got any pictures of a good pen design for same? Thinking basic holding pen split in the middle of the crush. Cheers

Bullocks

Count Mondego wrote: »

They are good. One problem I have with their design is that to have the crush a bit higher than the standard 4' 10" you can get an extension, but this angles in over the animal rather than straight up.

I wouldn't mind it sloping in . It could be handy for leaning over when giving an injection or something like that . Might discourage them from rising up in the crush too .
I've often gotten a nasty pull down on the top bar when catching an animal for dosing , the top bar slanting in might give you more leverage for that kind of going on

onyerbikepat

What Teagasc say;

http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingschemesandpayments/farmbuildings/farmbuildingspecifications/pdfversions/S137.pdf

http://www.teagasc.ie/advisory/farm_management/buildings/facilities_fittings_services/cattle_handling/Elaborate_crush.pdf

Count Mondego

Bullocks wrote: »

I wouldn't mind it sloping in . It could be handy for leaning over when giving an injection or something like that . Might discourage them from rising up in the crush too .
I've often gotten a nasty pull down on the top bar when catching an animal for dosing , the top bar slanting in might give you more leverage for that kind of going on

Actually, that would be my main objection, an animal could catch you easier than a straight bar I'd say. Fair enough if you were injecting the far side but if you needed to catch the head it would be very dangerous.

Mac Taylor

onyerbikepat wrote: »

What Teagasc say;

http://www.teagasc.ie/advisory/farm_management/buildings/facilities_fittings_services/cattle_handling/Elaborate_crush.pdf

If I win the lotto maybe and want to turn a big fortune into a small fortune:D

Count Mondego

Mac Taylor wrote: »

Count M, how many animals is it for? I'm looking to put in a crush and pen in an outfarm for max 20 cows plus calves, priced a 20ft crush with basic headgate for €550. Have main crush at home, anyone got any pictures of a good pen design for same? Thinking basic holding pen split in the middle of the crush. Cheers

Mac,

I want it around 10metres or 32 foot to hold 4 - 5 cows. With semi auto crush gate, first panel as gate, vet/inspection gate and back gate comes to between 1200 and 1500

renandstimpy

Count Mondego wrote: »

Mac,

I want it around 10metres or 32 foot to hold 4 - 5 cows. With semi auto crush gate, first panel as gate, vet/inspection gate and back gate comes to between 1200 and 1500

I have that exact layout of crush at our place from odonovans in cork .. its in since about 07 and have yet to have a cow or animal come out over it ... ill be down there tomorrow will measure it for ya as I cant remember off hand what height I got when setting in place ... granted it is inside and one side is a wall in the old cubicle house .

Farmer

In my experience one of the most important design considerations when dealing with suckler cows is whatever funnelling arrangement you have for getting them in to the crush. Suckler cows can be quite stubborn about it and often when dosing, I find it a bigger job to actually get them in the crush than to actually drench them. I'd budget for an extra gate and pillar for that

renandstimpy

Farmer wrote: »

In my experience one of the most important design considerations when dealing with suckler cows is whatever funnelling arrangement you have for getting them in to the crush. Suckler cows can be quite stubborn about it and often when dosing, I find it a bigger job to actually get them in the crush than to actually drench them. I'd budget for an extra gate and pillar for that

totally agree have funnelling gate in mine ...

Muckit

Priced a SINGLE mobile cattle crush there lately. ... €2200! and very basic. Now I know would get 40%grant but even taking fitting costs etc into consideration might be better put in something permanent, especially if have wall to put it against, l persume that price is for a single side only? The VAT can be claimed back on permanent crush and materials l take it?

KCTK

Muckit wrote: »

The VAT can be claimed back on permanent crush and materials l take it?

Yes that's correct

Count Mondego

renandstimpy wrote: »

I have that exact layout of crush at our place from odonovans in cork .. its in since about 07 and have yet to have a cow or animal come out over it ... ill be down there tomorrow will measure it for ya as I cant remember off hand what height I got when setting in place ... granted it is inside and one side is a wall in the old cubicle house .

Goodman. I think the standard is 4' 8-10". That's not high enough for stores and suckler cows in my opinion. The old one I have is 5'6" and they'd still rise in it at times.

Muckit, 12-15 hundred including vat for one side. All panels removable as well in case an animal went down.

Timmaay

Count Mondego wrote: »

Muckit, 12-15 hundred including vat for one side. All panels removable as well in case an animal went down.

Which supplier? Any photos of the removable panels? I'll need something similar enough here soon. I'm giving series consideration to a parallel crush also at the exit of my parlour, would be very handy for AI, vaccination, tb testing, so might keep the normal race crush simple and short enough and more so for individual handling.

Count Mondego

Timmaay wrote: »

Which supplier? Any photos of the removable panels? I'll need something similar enough here soon. I'm giving series consideration to a parallel crush also at the exit of my parlour, would be very handy for AI, vaccination, tb testing, so might keep the normal race crush simple and short enough and more so for individual handling.

The 3 I mentioned in the first post. All have websites.

Miname

Ive been looking into this as well and the only issue i would have with the removable panels are the way they are fitted on any of them. between the post the lugs and your panel its over a foot of the crush to catch your arm in and just a hinderance with a stubborn animal. ive been really contemplating getting posts cored and pipes ran straight through so theres less obstacles with the crush and may even just put a removable panel on the headlocking gate end. in fairness its a rarety that an animal will get caught in a crush that cant be put up with a bit of shimmying.

Count Mondego

Miname wrote: »

Ive been looking into this as well and the only issue i would have with the removable panels are the way they are fitted on any of them. between the post the lugs and your panel its over a foot of the crush to catch your arm in and just a hinderance with a stubborn animal. ive been really contemplating getting posts cored and pipes ran straight through so theres less obstacles with the crush and may even just put a removable panel on the headlocking gate end. in fairness its a rarety that an animal will get caught in a crush that cant be put up with a bit of shimmying.

http://www.odonovaneng.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Crush-Fixed-panel.JPG

A foot between the post and panel?

Lizard_Moon

Count Mondego wrote: »

http://www.odonovaneng.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Crush-Fixed-panel.JPG

A foot between the post and panel?

There is a large inaccessible area with these crushes - width of post and 2 panel attachments. I find them awkward when TB testing, dehorning and haltering cattle. Less room to manoeuvre your arm, a concrete walkway helps.

However they are a nice solid crush and easy to dismantle if an animal goes down.

Bullocks

Count Mondego wrote: »

Actually, that would be my main objection, an animal could catch you easier than a straight bar I'd say. Fair enough if you were injecting the far side but if you needed to catch the head it would be very dangerous.

I've never used one with a tapered rail on top so I cant say for sure , it was just guessing that it would suit .
Anyone else here use one that can impart a bit of knowledge ?

leg wax

new crush gone in here ,odonovans one ,solid panels on one side all gates on other,back gate ,access gate at top to get behind cow,still have to put on head gate, 6 panels long= 65 feet long.all in 3800 yoyos.

Greengrass1

Crush here against silage pit wall. In a very good location. But its wooden. Built 30yr ago. Still okay but no great shakes. If I was to put new crush in would I need to break up the concrete stand?

onyerbikepat

We have 3 chutes here. All are made from railway girders with 4 rings welded. Tubular galvanised lengths then slide through these. Should an animal go down in the chute, all the pipes can be slided back completely. To be honest, the top bar is very high, but we had a lot of mad bullocks in the old days. They'll never jump out over them, that's for sure. You have to be carful though, that you don't get slammed up under the top bar.

Bullocks

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Crush here against silage pit wall. In a very good location. But its wooden. Built 30yr ago. Still okay but no great shakes. If I was to put new crush in would I need to break up the concrete stand?

If its wide enough could you chase the concrete stand to accommodate the upright bars for the new crush and patch up around them again

Greengrass1

Bullocks wrote: »

If its wide enough could you chase the concrete stand to accommodate the upright bars for the new crush and patch up around them again

Now that I'm thinking about it the posts will be hard got out. There concreted in and some are broken. Being held ATM with angle iron drove into ground around them
Easiest way would be to break stand up.
Vet says what ever we do do not move crush from where it is.

Miname

Count Mondego wrote: »

http://www.odonovaneng.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Crush-Fixed-panel.JPG

A foot between the post and panel?

from the inside of the gate upright to the upright of the next panel.

Miname

leg wax wrote: »

new crush gone in here ,odonovans one ,solid panels on one side all gates on other,back gate ,access gate at top to get behind cow,still have to put on head gate, 6 panels long= 65 feet long.all in 3800 yoyos.

any pictures legs and any idea which gate your going with. ive an automatic here on another crush and i dont like it, i'l probably go with a caged one next time but whether to go with automatic semi or what i dont really know.

Bullocks

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Now that I'm thinking about it the posts will be hard got out. There concreted in and some are broken. Being held ATM with angle iron drove into ground around them
Easiest way would be to break stand up.
Vet says what ever we do do not move crush from where it is.

It would awkward working the consaw and kango in there but its certainly doable ( the kinda **** jobs I'm used to doing )
You should try taking out one to see anyhow before breaking up the full stand

Greengrass1

Bullocks wrote: »

It would awkward working the consaw and kango in there but its certainly doable ( the kinda **** jobs I'm used to doing )
You should try taking out one to see anyhow before breaking up the full stand

Ah its not this yrs job any way should get by for another yr

leg wax

Miname wrote: »

any pictures legs and any idea which gate your going with. ive an automatic here on another crush and i dont like it, i'l probably go with a caged one next time but whether to go with automatic semi or what i dont really know.

have it already its the one with the cage ,and you close it on the cow by a leaver as she walks past you.no more hitting a cow to get her to put her head out.

Count Mondego

leg wax wrote: »

have it already its the one with the cage ,and you close it on the cow by a leaver as she walks past you.no more hitting a cow to get her to put her head out.

What is the height of the race?

49801

Count Mondego wrote: »

Lads,

Pricing and spec'ing a new crush race with gates etc. Have pricing form the following suppliers

O'Donovans in Cork
O'Donnells in Tipp
Cashel Engineering in Tipp

Any experience with any of the 3 regarding build quality? Need it to be heavy duty as it will be for suckler cows.

Odeng do make good strong stuff but I would rather you spent time on your layout on how to get the animals to flow though the system with min effort and safe for man and beast rather than which manufacturer at this point.

You don't nessiscarily need a full circular chute to do this but you can incorp it's principals.
For example a Bud Box is a very effective setup but you do need to know how to work it.

Put pen to paper a draw it out.

Corkfarmer

In the process of putting in new crush at home after much consideration this is the design I've gone with. The gate and opening panels at the end are from O'Donovans and the rest from local steel supplier. The race is made from cored pipe. I put in a slip through and funnelling at the end. Must weld up the gates for holding pen.

Count Mondego

Corkfarmer wrote: »

In the process of putting in new crush at home after much consideration this is the design I've gone with. The gate and opening panels at the end are from O'Donovans and the rest from local steel supplier. The race is made from cored pipe. I put in a slip through and funnelling at the end. Must weld up the gates for holding pen.

Lovely job, what width did you go with? Nice front end.

Mad4simmental

I like the funnelling at the end. Very good idea, it can be hard to run them back true the head gate plus you can work on both sides of the animal.

Corkfarmer

Count Mondego wrote: »

Lovely job, what width did you go with? Nice front end.

I was going with 730mm wide as per drawings I got from Donovans but the wall is all over the shop so it varies a bit.

Corkfarmer

Mad4simmental wrote: »

I like the funnelling at the end. Very good idea, it can be hard to run them back true the head gate plus you can work on both sides of the animal.

Ya I liked the idea of being able to work on both sides at the end if needs be. I wasn't sure whether to go all panels as everyone says you have to have them in case an animal goes down. It came down to cost at the end and we never had a problem with animals going down in the old one.

Farmer

Watch the fingers off the ends of that side sheeting if you ever go to nose an animal down the chute

49801

Corkfarmer wrote: »

Ya I liked the idea of being able to work on both sides at the end if needs be. I wasn't sure whether to go all panels as everyone says you have to have them in case an animal goes down. It came down to cost at the end and we never had a problem with animals going down in the old one.

Looks a super job!

Muckit

Layout is crucial. This is a sketch of an old layout that worked excellent. I've yet to tweek our current setup to get it to work as good.

Basically the cattle go in. They then turn around and want to escape. As you close the gate behind them the only escape route is the crush!

The ideal is to only put the fill of the crush in the pen. Then they'll follow one another up without you even having to go into the pen!

keep going

One of the handiest things is to hang a gate at the end of the crush to funnel the animals into it and in our case it can hold a couple of animals as well to give extra length

onyerbikepat

I would agree with the last two posts. A 5ft gate at the chute entrance is a great idea. Our best layout is similar to Muckits. The holding pen has 2/3 of the chute inside the pen and the last 1/3 with head gate is outside. When cattle are in the pen they are surrounding by 3 high walls so the only way out is the chute. I put 20 cattle through it the other day on my own. The only problem is I have nowhere to leave the pour-ons injections etc, while I work. I must hang a shelf or something high up on the wall.
When traning a newborn calf to drink the cow, I just slide back the lowest bar and work away.

farawaygrass

For example a Bud Box is a very effective setup but you do need to know how to work it. ][/quote]

How do to mean about knowing having to work it?

49801

farawaygrass wrote: »

For example a Bud Box is a very effective setup but you do need to know how to work it. ]

How do to mean about knowing having to work it?[/QUOTE]

Not overfilling it
Flapping at the stock from the wrong side
Etc

Muckit

Yes. Only bring down the fill of the crush to this pen from your slatted shed or other holding pen. Worse thing ever is to bring down one too many as she'll go silly in the pen on her own.

Also the cattle shouldn't be jammed in. They need room to turn around on their own.

renandstimpy

Hey count , these are pictures of o'Donovans crush and shute . it measures 5ft in height and we have big mental cattle that never came out of it yet
maybe thats because of the wall i dont know .


This picture shows how we run the cattle in when they hit the doors at the other end they turn around to come back by themselves at which point im in between the crush and gates with back doors closed and first gate ready to swing around behind them .


I would have prefered more room at back here but compromises have to be made when working to existing sheds .




these last 2 pictures show gate used to funnel cattle up shute ... im going to clad this gate this summer to make it more effiecent with driving the cattle . would also like to somehow put gate in that would extend crush and use for funneling but i havened found a way yet that it wont be in the way when im bringing them in .








these pens also double as calving pens when stuck for space . Crush is the one that stays in open position .Its not perfect by any stretch but it means i can now dose /inject in the evening when its dark and raining .

leg wax

Count Mondego wrote: »

What is the height of the race?

top of the top bar measured 54 inches, i just followed the plan that came with the crush.

Zr105

Corkfarmer wrote: »

In the process of putting in new crush at home after much consideration this is the design I've gone with. The gate and opening panels at the end are from O'Donovans and the rest from local steel supplier. The race is made from cored pipe. I put in a slip through and funnelling at the end. Must weld up the gates for holding pen.

Nice job that, like the way the front comes out to work either side. I'd be a bit worried bout the sheets tho, if an animal had its head in between the wall and another animal the rise up its head quickly it could end up getting a bit of a scalping, or even your own hand as said earlier..

A length of 2*2 timber along the wall just barely under the sheets might be enough to make it a bit safer?


On crushes the biggest thing I would say is try to set it up that you don't have to continuously cross around in front of the crush, to get from the pens leading to it to the side you work the actual chute from, ours has ended up that way from changes in the yard over the years and it makes it an absolute pain to work as you spend so much time trying to get around it...

Crossakiel

Have upgraded our cattle handling facilities at both the home farm and an out farm in the last two years and both times used Ark Enterprises from Athboy in Co. Meath. Came up with a really interesting design on the out farm and at the home farm created a holding pen with a series of interlocking gates that can be moved or increased or decreased depending on the number of stock being handled. It has reduced the job of dosing cattle from a three man job to a one man job, top notch work. Agriland have a piece done on him http://www.agriland.ie/news/cattlemaster-crushes-driving-sales-meath-firm/