Teemore Engineering recently installed a top-of-the-range handling unit for Harte Farms, near Clones, Co Monaghan. The farm operates a large spring- and autumn-calving suckler herd so the handling unit had to be able to cater for large numbers of cattle quickly and efficiently. The unit that Teemore Engineering designed and installed comprised of a carousel holding pen joined to a curved race leading to a Cattlemaster pneumatic (air) operated crush.

Figure 1

The unit was designed with operator safety and ease of cattle handling as priorities. Cattle have a natural tendency to return in the direction they come from so with that in mind the crush was designed in a U shape that encourages cattle to run up the race towards the crush.

Both the carousel and race are lined with 9mm stockboard. This is done to encourage cattle to head towards the only light source, which is coming from the race. It also prevents cattle from being startled by activity outside the carousel and race.

There are no sharp edges on the unit, with everything curved, which not only aids operator safety but also livestock safety.

Pictures two and three

The two forcing gates on the carousel are also curved, which is rare and helps with cattle flow as cattle are funnelled into the mouth of the race. These forcing gates will rotate 360° on a centre post, eliminating the need for the gates to be reversed, which allows the next pen of cattle to quickly enter the carousel, greatly increasing the speed with which large numbers of cattle can be handled.

The carousel is fitted with a notch every metre and a nylon latch which locks the forcing gate as it is pushed around. A nylon bar is used as it will not cause any noise when it goes over a notch, unlike steel bars which could cause a loud bang and perhaps startle cattle.

When cattle are standing in the carousel the only light they can see is from the race and once the sliding guillotine gate is opened they will naturally move towards the only light source.

Pictures four

The race is 13m long and can hold approximately eight cows. It is curved to ensure continual flow of cattle through the unit. Cattle are unable to see what is ahead of them and they will naturally move along and continue into the crush at the end of the race. There is a guillotine gate at the end of the race.

The area beside the race is raised to increase the ease with which the farmer can work with cattle in the race. While cattle that require an injection may have to be held in the crush at the end of the race, less labour some tasks such as applying a pour-on product or the clipping of backs, can be carried out as cattle stand in the race. Both the race and carousel are made from 60mm box steel and 101mm octagonal posts with all bars and posts galvanised.

Picture five

The Cattlemaster pneumatic crush can gently squeeze cattle to make them easier to handle while drafting gates can be pneumatically opened on either side of the crush to direct cattle to a certain pen. The opening and closing of the back and head gates of the crush are also pneumatically controlled.

Farmer’s experience

The unit has been in use on the farm for the past six months and farm manager Niall McGovern has been very impressed so far. “It’s a good system; there is no stress on cattle when they have to be handled and the way that the race is designed ensures cattle feed through themselves.

“Two men could handle 60 to 70 cattle in an hour easily. It is a lot safer than a conventional handling unit and once you are behind the forcing gate there is only one direction that cattle can go and that is up the race, there is no way they can turn back and injure you. The way that the whole system is designed means you never have to get into the pen with cattle which makes everything so much safer.”

While this handling system was installed as part of a much larger shed, Teemore Engineering provided a breakdown of the costs involved in installing a similar handling unit.

The curved race including the 9mm stockboard panels that line the race and the rear guillotine gates costs a total of €6,400 plus VAT. The 6.1m carousel at the rear of the race costs €4,750 plus VAT, including the two forcing gates and all 9mm stockboard panels.

To install the Cattlemaster air-operated crush costs €17,000 plus VAT and may not be an option for every farmer. However, a simple crush and head gate could also be used as a cheaper alternative.

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