Cattle loading part 2 (pics)

[topside1]

Mission accomplished!!!! Re-enforced the corral panels, and adjusted the width of the loading alley. Plenty of rain on the way to cure the concrete...Hope someone out there found my photos helpful...Topside

[G. Seddon]

Really, really nice! A couple of questions:

How are you able to narrow the width of the alley if the posts are set in concrete?

Are the boards across the top the ones you plan to place behind the animal going down the alley?

Does the gate on the left, at the end of the alley, open to the left so you can back your trailer flush up to the posts at the end of the alley?

Just trying to picture how this will work........

[topside1]

Gale, I've attached two 2 x 6 boards one on top of each other to the large round right hand post. You will see they are a different color. The boards across the top just strengthen the entire structure left to right and are attached to the tops of the round posts. Yes the gate does swing in both directions so come moving day it won't be an issue. I ran my largest steer (800#) thru the chute without the trailer today. This dry run gave me a real time look at required dimensions. I've loaded 16 adult steers the hard way, really looking forward to trying this baby out....Topside

[gone-a-milkin]

I think you should just load them up and take them for a ride, for fun.
Maybe take them to Dairy Queen for an icecream cone?

Good work.

[mary,tx]

I showed it to DH because I really, really hope we'll have a loading chute before we have to take Bliss in in a few months. We've loaded right out of the field for years, but I always dread it and am always surprised when we finally get the animal on. I just don't see Bliss just stepping up onto a trailer out of the field.

Nice job.

[G. Seddon]

mary,tx -- it can be done, but might take 7-10 days to load the animal in the trailer in the field. It requires food, first within reach of the cow without having to place one foot in the trailer. You put the bucket about 3' inside the back of the trailer and disappear. Then you move it farther in so the animal needs to place front feet inside the trailer and the person disappears. Gradually, reaching the bucket requires that the animal step all the way in. After a couple of times doing this, you can come behind and shut the trailer with the cow inside.

Obviously, a loading area is more reliable, but it's still a good idea to get them used to walking through it BEFORE you NEED them to walk through.

[Awnry Abe]

Looks solid. What is your approach angle with the trailer?

[oneokie]

Originally Posted by topside1

Mission accomplished!!!! Re-enforced the corral panels, and adjusted the width of the loading alley. Plenty of rain on the way to cure the concrete...Hope someone out there found my photos helpful...Topside

You are aware that wood posts set in concrete will rot out at ground level much quicker than ones set with tamped dirt? Doesn't matter what they are treated with, even creosote treated ones.

[COWS]

Good job on your method of reducing the width of the chute. As I see it, you can adjust the width back and forth as needed.

I used G.Seddon's method of loading a bull in the open pasture. I didn't like his attitude enough to get in the pen with him.

COWS

[Bret]

Looks nice. It will be more fun and more safe while loading.

[ksfarmer]

Looks good Topside. The only suggestion I would have is to hinge the gate at the back of the alley on the opposite side (right). This would allow you to use the gate to help crowd into the alley, using the side of the building as an extension of the loading alley.

[mary,tx]

Originally Posted by G. Seddon

mary,tx -- it can be done, but might take 7-10 days to load the animal in the trailer in the field. It requires food, first within reach of the cow without having to place one foot in the trailer. You put the bucket about 3' inside the back of the trailer and disappear. Then you move it farther in so the animal needs to place front feet inside the trailer and the person disappears. Gradually, reaching the bucket requires that the animal step all the way in. After a couple of times doing this, you can come behind and shut the trailer with the cow inside.

Obviously, a loading area is more reliable, but it's still a good idea to get them used to walking through it BEFORE you NEED them to walk through.

Thanks, yea, I've done that. But I'd rather have a loading area.

[countryfied2011]

mary,tx -- it can be done, but might take 7-10 days to load the animal in the trailer in the field. It requires food, first within reach of the cow without having to place one foot in the trailer. You put the bucket about 3' inside the back of the trailer and disappear. Then you move it farther in so the animal needs to place front feet inside the trailer and the person disappears. Gradually, reaching the bucket requires that the animal step all the way in. After a couple of times doing this, you can come behind and shut the trailer with the cow inside.

This is how I always taught my horses, so tried it with my heifer when I took her to breed a couple of months ago and it worked. Then when we got ready for her to come home, the farmer said I believe she is a "pet", I said yeah how do you know? He said she walked right into the barn and into a stall for him and when we loaded her she walked out of the stall up onto the trailer(we had pulled up to the barn door) with feed.

Great job Topside!

[Lazy J]

The workmanship looks great, but I don't like the sharp corners or the open sides. I prefer to have solid panels on the gates and curved gates to get animals to turn corners.