Well-designed facilities are essential to reducing cattle injury and stress during handling or treatment.
Ideal facilities have:
- Good lighting without shadows,
- Ample space to reduce crowding,
- Working chutes that are curved and sufficiently narrow to maintain forward movement and prevent cattle from turning around,
- Dry and level ground conditions.
An animal standing in the crowd pen must be able to see 2 to 3 body lengths up the single file chute before it curves. This will facilitate entry into the chute.
Curved pathways allow the animals to see where they are going. Sharp corners look like dead ends.
Design and drafting services, on-site or virtual consultation services, on-site troubleshooting and recommendations.
A catalogue of cattle handling equipment from Hi-Hog Farm and Ranch Equipment Ltd., designed with cattle behaviour in mind.
A facility design guide created by Hi-Hog Farm and Ranch Equipment Ltd.
Example drawings and models for handling systems including cattle corrals, stockyards, and races, including reference research articles by Dr. Temple Grandin.
