Why Are Corrals Used in Beef Production
Cattle Handling Systems and Layout of Cattle Corrals and Races
Practical tips on why some handling systems work improve than others. by Temple Grandin
Assistant Professor
Dept. of Animal Scientific discipline
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
Beefiness, Sept. 1998, pp. 50-52
Some cattle handling systems work like well-oiled machines, while others bog downwards with cattle that constantly balk and turn effectually.
Figure 1) A well designed round crowd pen takes advantage of the tendency of cattle to go back in the management they came from.
Fixing crowded, poorly designed systems isn�t impossible. In fact, in that location are usually three basic causes of bug in crowd pens and chutes:
- Distractions, such as a chain hanging downward in the chute entrance, that cause balking,
- Poor handling methods, similar overloading the oversupply pen with likewise many cattle, and
- Layout mistakes in the crowd pen and chute.
Curved vs. Straight
Round crowd pens and curved single file chutes work ameliorate than direct ones, but they must be laid out correctly.A curved chute works more efficiently than a straight one considering it prevents cattle from seeing people and other activities at the cease of the chute.
Effigy 2) In the high efficiency round crowd pen arrangement, cattle make a 180° plough as they move through the crowd pen.
A round oversupply pen will work ameliorate than a straight crowd pen considering, every bit cattle become effectually a 180° turn, they think they are going back to where they came from (see Figures 1 and ii). Round crowd pens should be laid out so cattle make a 180° turn equally they move through the crowd pen.
The most common mistake is the straight-through layout shown in Figure 3. The advantage of a round crowd pen is lost when cattle move straight through it. When cattle go around the bend as shown in figures one and two, information technology takes advantage of their natural behavior. Cattle want to go dorsum to where they came from.
Figure 3) The straight through round crowd pen and expressionless end chute is poorly designed.
The design in Figure iii tin can exist improved past changing the angle of the entrance. The dotted line shows how to better the layout. In places where a 180° plough is not possible, use a xc° or greater turn. Crowd pens where cattle make a 90° turn piece of work improve than a straight-through design.
The most common pattern error is dead-ending the curved single file chute. This occurs when the chute is aptitude too sharply where it joins the crowd pen. An animal standing in the oversupply pen must be able to run into a minimum of two body lengths up the chute before it turns.
Figures ane and ii show skillful layouts, and Effigy three shows a dead-end layout. The dotted line on Figure 3 shows how to correct the trouble. Cattle movement in Effigy iii can be greatly improved by adding a 10-ft. straight sections of single file chute. This will enable cattle standing in the crowd pen to see two to three torso lengths up the chute before it turns.
Why is information technology so important for an brute to be able to see upward the chute? Cattle will refuse to go somewhere unless they tin can see a identify to go. The principle of a well-designed curved single file chute is to show the animal there is a place to go and then take him around the curve.
Some other common mistake is making a crowd pen either as well large or as well pocket-size. The ideal radius for a round crowd pen is 12 ft. If a crowd gate longer than 12 ft. is used, the pen will be as well big. An 8-ft. gate is too small. Cattle in a crowd pen need room to turn.
The oversupply pen and curved chute systems shown in Figures 1 and 2 should be built as shown. Many producers recollect that efficiency will be improved if the crowd pen is designed and then the crowd gate tin squeeze the cattle all the way into the chute. If an animal is turned around, treatment will become more difficult if you attempt to squeeze the crowd pen space down to nothing.
A system that is designed perfectly will not work if the chute entrance is too dark or the system contains distractions that cause balking. Recently, I visited many feedlots and worked with employees to improve handling. In half of the lots, cattle aghast at dangling loose concatenation ends hanging downward in the entrance of the single file chute.
In many feedlots, good cattle motion was incommunicable until I tied open the anti-backup gate at the archway of the chute. Anti-fill-in gates can as well be equipped with a remote control rope. Cattle inbound the chute volition enter more easily if the gate is held open up. After they enter, the gate can exist closed.
A treatment facility in a dark building will also cause balking. Cattle ofttimes move more hands in buildings equipped with translucent skylights or translucent panels in the walls. The panels provide brilliant lighting that is costless of shadows.
Cattle often move more easily if the oversupply pen and most of the single file chute is located outside the building. Cattle will often cramp if the wall of the building is placed at the junction between the crowd pen and the single file chute. A building either has to encompass the unabridged crowd pen and single file chute, or you need a minimum of two body lengths of single file chute protruding outside the building.
It�due south important that a oversupply pen have solid sides and a solid crowd gate. A solid oversupply gate is important to prevent cattle from attempting to plough back to where they came from. Man gates must be installed to allow people to escape from charging cattle.
Better Handling
When cattle enter the crowd pen, they should move easily into the unmarried file chute. If the animals balk, either eliminate distractions (such as a closed one-way anti-backup gate) or change where people stand.The No. i rule is never overload the oversupply pen. Cattle need room to turn. Fill the oversupply pen less than 1/four full.
Photo ane shows a circular crowd pen that is similar to Figure 1. In this photo, the pen is being used properly, Note that the crowd gate is non pushed up confronting the cattle. The crowd gate should be used the same way the emergency brake is used in the automobile: you lot should nigh never have to apply information technology.
Photo ane. When the crowd pen shown in Figure 1 is operated correctly, the crowd gate is non pushed tightly against the cattle.
The crowd gate in Photo 1 has been left on the beginning notch and it stays there. If cattle are walking into the chute, don�t push them with the crowd gate. The crowd gate should but be used if at that place are ane or two stubborn cattle. Pushing the crowd gate tightly against the cattle makes handling more than hard because animals cannot turn.
The handlers in Photo 1 are using sticks with plastic flags on them to move cattle. The man in the night shirt has his flag on the ground so cattle don�t run across information technology. He�s also standing back far plenty and then cattle move easily. Cattle sometimes move more easily into the single file chute if the handler works adequately close to the chute entrance.
Photo two shows a person moving cattle into the single file chute by moving on the catwalk. He walks forrad to reduce jamming at the entrance and moves backwards, abroad from the entrance, to speed upwards the cattle. The handler should not move into this position until cattle have started to enter the single file chute. Cattle may refuse to approach the chute entrance if a person is continuing most information technology.
Photo ii. Cattle entry from a crowd pen into the single file chute tin be controlled past a person moving forward and backward forth the catwalk.
Cattle movement into the unmarried file chute volition be more efficient if handlers wait until the chute is partially empty before attempting to make full it. This takes advantage of natural following behavior. If there is space, cattle can walk directly into the chute. Also, if the chute is full, cattle in the crowd pen are more likely to plow around. The crowd pen should be used equally a laissez passer-through pen to induce cattle to enter the chute.
Source: http://www.grandin.com/inc/cattlecorrals.html
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