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Squeeze Chute or Head Catch or ?

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T O P I C R E V I E W
CloversMum	Posted - Aug 26 2014 : 9:40:23 PM I am looking for a chute or head catch for my Jersey. The WSU vets are able to do AI procedures here at my farm (eliminating multiple trips over to the veterinary hospital) as long as I have some sort of cattle restraint for Clover. I may not be calling it the correct name. It would need to be available asap and somewhere in the Pacific Northwest...within a day's drive of northern Idaho. Just curious if anyone has one available. I am also checking on craigslist. Any other sites recommended for used cattle equipment? Or would the side rail work in keeping Clover contained during any AI procedure? Advice, MaryJane? If that were the case, then we'd put our resources into a side rail as we would use that during future milking times.
22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First)
CloversMum	Posted - Jun 16 2015 : 08:42:49 AM Another note on keeping the milking parlor close to the house ... for any family member who is advocating for the milking area to be farther away, just have them haul all the milking gear for a week. Then, they'll probably suggest a milking parlor lean-to!
farmlife	Posted - May 22 2015 : 1:11:25 PM I agree. Our milking area is not far from my house, but it seems far when I haul everything out!
maryjane	Posted - May 22 2015 : 05:51:21 AM The closer the better. It's like having your washing machine too far away.
txbikergirl	Posted - May 22 2015 : 05:43:49 AM Add me to the milk parlor "dream list". We are still deciding whether we should setup for milking in a converted stall of the "barn" (loose designation, more of a very large equipment shed like covering that could blow away if I huff and puff a bit) OR prep an area beside the garage where the greenhouse will be - benefit is that it will be adjacent to backyard/house so less hauling to do. Both would be covered, both would have electrical and water and be out of wind/elements, so trying to decide other factors...
CloversMum	Posted - May 21 2015 : 9:22:43 PM Good ideas, Jen. And, I've used our horse trailer when the vet came to see Betsy when we first got Betsy. The trailer worked like a charm. Now my trailer is a temporary shelter for my goat kids! Necessity of definitely the mother of invention!
NellieBelle	Posted - May 20 2015 : 09:39:06 AM Great information Jen. Like I always say, necessity is the mother of invention. Thank you!
happyfarmwife	Posted - May 20 2015 : 09:31:08 AM In a pinch you can use a couple pipe panel gates and a chain behind the cow to hold the two panels together. A board or pipe across in front of her chest keeps her from walking forward and a chain or rope behind her to keep her from dancing around works well. The chain around the rear should run across above your cow's hock level to restrain her for breeding and reduce the chance she will kick. A stout halter and strong fence or wall on one side, pipe panel or gate panel on the other and a chain to keep her from kicking the AI technician works perfect. If you have a gate that will swing around back toward the fence or wall somewhere can be used to squeeze in a cow for doctoring, stitches, palpation preg checks, and AI work. My husband does all our AI work with the girls in the stanchion in the milk shed. On the young girls he halters them and ties them short to keep them from dancing so much.......the old girls get some grain and they generally stand well without any side restraint. You can also use a two horse trailer with a divider. Cow goes in like a horse would, tie her using a stout halter and she's ready for the AI work to begin. Creative engineering is the name of the game on the farmstead. What do you have available that you can use to accomplish the task at hand?!?!
CloversMum	Posted - Sep 06 2014 : 4:31:24 PM Thank you for explaining, Janet...makes so much sense and safety always should be a priority. And, yes I do dream often of a barn and a milking parlor...lots of time to plan for it which is wonderful!
Ron	Posted - Sep 04 2014 : 10:31:52 AM If we both dream about a parlor we will have it. And I agree, the shelter is a blessing now. I just love to always dream...it is fun!
NellieBelle	Posted - Sep 04 2014 : 09:28:44 AM The reason for the other side rail is because the girls will come in at the same time. Sienna won't wait for anything. Maybe in time I could get them to come in one after the other, but I doubt it happens anytime soon. As soon as they see me coming with the bucket, watch out! And Sienna is wanting to go into Nellie's spot, so I have to train Sienna to go into her designated stanchion. I'm sure I'm making work out of this. But I want to know where Sienna is at all times. So I figure another side rail would just work better for us. I might find that I can get something else figured out. It's a conundrum. I'm usually having to milk alone so I'm just thinking safety for me.
CloversMum	Posted - Sep 04 2014 : 08:58:31 AM Well, we are still waiting for our "decent" barn (actually any barn!) so we will be installing the side rail in a shelter that was built a year ago. I figure we can just relocate it when and if I ever get a real barn! So, Janet, why do you think you'll need two side rails? Can't the cows share the same side rail as you milk one at a time or are you thinking of milking more at the same time? Just curious... as I was thinking, "Whew, one more piece of equipment figured out...cross it off my list!" I really don't want to add "side rail" at the bottom of my list again! Ron, my dream would be a nice milking parlor...love the pictures in MaryJane's cow book... But in the meantime, I am grateful for the shelter.
Ron	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 6:06:30 PM Farm gate. Good idea. The panel is nice but you have to work in it not through. Never had the hoof to the head. Looking forward to the day when I put together a nice milking parlor with all the bells and whistle.
NellieBelle	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 07:18:41 AM Yes, I like the safety of something. Don't need a hoof to the head or anywhere for that matter. I think my husband is picking up a 10' farm gate today so I can start working with Sienna. Get her use to the routine. Her due date is Oct. 12.
Ron	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 06:59:14 AM I looked at the pictures that MJ posted. It does looked like the cows moo for sure. I have just been waiting to get a decent barn before I put too much effort into the rail. For now Harriet pretty much stands for milking..She has been a little restless since She had the calf last week. So out comes the 8 foot panel.
NellieBelle	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 06:45:11 AM I'm going to have to make a second side rail, or use a cattle panel for I have another heifer that will freshen next month and I need to be getting her ready for the milking experience. I will see if she is going to accept the handling etc. She's been rather spooky from the start. Don't know why, but just different than Nellie. But, I want to give her a chance. So I will see how she's going to do before I put the expense into another side rail, but if she does well then I will definitely have another one made. Here go my nerves. Ha! Have to breath deep and try to stay grounded. (The side rail is just handier. No bars to reach through etc.) You will really like it Ron.
Ron	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 05:36:34 AM I think I need to do a side rail. Have been using a piece of cattle panel drug into place when she is milking.
NellieBelle	Posted - Sep 03 2014 : 04:27:51 AM Oh congratulations CloversMum. It is exciting! Can't wait for the AI to be complete and you get a positive pregnancy report and then it's just taking care of the cow-mum to be. Happy for you. The side rail is the cow's moo as MJ says. Love it.
CloversMum	Posted - Sep 02 2014 : 10:11:29 PM My, or rather Clover's, side rail has been completed! It will be painted in the next day or so and then we can install it!! Ready to help with Clover's AI'ing here on our farm. So excited!
CloversMum	Posted - Aug 29 2014 : 7:08:42 PM My side rail is being constructed this next week! So excited!! MaryJane, we took the plans to Mundy's and they are making it for me! Yay!
CloversMum	Posted - Aug 27 2014 : 12:34:23 PM Oh perfect! I was hoping that would work...one piece of equipment serving two separate needs! Thank you for the advice!
NellieBelle	Posted - Aug 27 2014 : 06:03:30 AM I was going to say too, that before we could get the side rail made, all our vet work and AI work was done using a farm gate that kept them against the wall. It worked fine. We secured it to the head stanchion and then down at the other end we either held it or tied it over. Like MJ said, give them a treat and they don't much care what goes on.
maryjane	Posted - Aug 27 2014 : 05:39:22 AM When WSU does AI at my farm, we do it in my milking parlor using only the side rail. A side rail is going to be much cheaper than a squeeze chute. My cows get busy eating their alfalfa treat and don't even pay attention to what's happening at their other end.