Hello everyone,
It's been a while since we've updated you on what's been happening here at the farm, and there's been quite a bit going on behind the scenes. We've been hard at work on our cattle handling system, which has been a year-long project in the making. From collecting supplies to researching and calculating, we've been preparing to tackle our main project for 2024.
Our cattle handling system is centered around our chute, so naturally, that was the first thing we focused on building. We were fortunate to acquire a very nice Prefert automatic chute, albeit used. However, figuring out how to operate it was a bit of trial and error at first. Once we got the hang of it, we decided it was time to put it to the test during our yearly immunizations.
During the process, we encountered some challenges, particularly with cows that were not accustomed to using a chute. Maneuvering their horns proved to be a major hurdle, and at one point, our pet cow Delilah even got her horn stuck in the chute! It was a bit of a scare, and we feared we might have to cut her out.
That experience prompted us to explore the idea of building a custom chute for our cattle. We were apprehensive about the prices of chutes that claimed to accommodate horned cattle, so we turned to Google and YouTube for inspiration. After watching tons of videos, we decided to build a Brye Chute, but with our own modifications.
Zach took the lead in designing our new squeeze chute, which loads the cattle in from the side. Instead of having vertical bars, ours are horizontal, allowing the cows' horns to rest in between. Delilah served as our test subject for the new chute, and as you can see in the photo, she was happy, unstressed, and her horn didn't get caught this time. She even enjoyed some treats, brushes, and affection afterward.
After completing the chute, it was time to focus on the rest of our cattle handling system. Originally, we had planned to house everything inside our barn, but upon measuring, we realized that it wouldn't be large enough. So, we made the decision to set everything up outside next to the barn.
Once we had our plan in place, we began digging the first hole, and from there, it was full steam ahead. We took our time, making sure to measure everything precisely and think through each step carefully. Our goal was perfection, or as close to it as possible, for this project.
One of our key considerations was ensuring that the vertical pipes were only used for support posts, while everything else remained horizontal. This design choice makes it easier for the cattle to move through the alley without their horns getting caught on vertically placed pipes.
Every aspect of this design is focused on efficiency and safety, for both the animals and us. We want to create a better overall experience for everyone involved. With the main construction nearing completion, we're excited to move on to testing and fine-tuning.
Stay tuned for more updates and content as we continue to make progress on our cattle handling system!
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