Committee

3rd

David Ritchie (Implements) Ltd Est 1870

Cattle Handling Systems

Agriculture Industry Advisory

December 2009

First mainstream manufacture & sales of‘Trombone’ systems developed fromAbattoir system’s commenced in 2001.

Continuous development in both design &manufacturing, enabling more streamlined

supply and flexibility.

On farm testing & trail work leading toimproved designs for cattle handling and

equipment strength and reliability.

Current on farm facilities:

No races, manual handling cattle into crates with sticks,swing gates etc.. whilst in the pens.

Often using standard height field gates, pallets, make shiftmeasures held together with string etc.

No animal flow, animal natural movements not exploited.Majority of the time using open sided hurdles causing animals

to stand back especially when strangers stood near tohandling area i.e. Vets.

Increasing both stress to animals making them more flighty andincreasing time required to work with cattle.

Points to consider in setting up.

Use of curves in the raceway & forcing pen allows animals to move easier

Sheeted race and forcing pen to reduce distractions from other animals & operators nearby

Holding pens designed to be long & narrow so that animal can be moved easily without trying to run past the handler.

No sharp corners that can give the effect of dead‐ends

Handling systems that operate in a ‘trombone’ shape allow the animals to return to direction they have come from.

Recommended to allow minimum of 6 meters of clear space in front of the crush so animals can see a clear exit from the system.

Slight incline as animals are coming from the forcing pen to crush will allow better movement.

Benefits working towards in the design .

Make the system easy for the operator to work with.

Safe working area for operator and any staff, vets etc..

Minimal chance of injuries to animals & operators.

Reduction in time & labour required to handle stock.

Exploit natural cattle behaviour.

Animals move easily without force.

Safe Working Area

1mtr Personnel Access Gates

Gates Between Pens Split to Enable Control of Flow of Cattle & Safe Position for Operator

Narrow Holding Pens (3mtr) Reduce Chance of Animals Running Past the Operator and Give the Operator More Control Of The Cattle

Sheeted Curve Encourages Animals To Follow Around Towards The Race

Cattle Flow Into The Race Easily Due To Lack OfDistractions, Gentle Curve & Impression TheyAre Returning To Where They Came From

Inner Curve Reduces Handling Smaller Groups Of Cattle at a Time (5‐7) Chance of Cattle Turning Allows Cattle to be Controlled and to Flow Round Back Into Race Whilst Operator Can Close Gate’s With Minimal Animal Contact.

Cattle Run Well With Minimal Force & Shouting Required, Following Each Other Down The Race

Cattle Flow Into The Race Away From The Forcing Gate, Less Chance of Operator Coming Into Contact With Animal Until The Forcing Gate is Latched

Forcing Gate  Can Be Closed Around Behind The Animals Until the Race Is Full.

Cattle Standing In Single File, Under Control, Following Each Other Towards The Crush

Operator Can Walk Back to the Safe Working Area Without Coming Into Contact With Any Animals

Working With Small Batches at a Time This Way Allows More Control & Ultimately Increased Throughput With Minimal Stress for Cattle & the Operator. Simple Jobs That Don’t Really Require The Animal to be Held in a Crush Can be Conducted Easily in a Race When Held This Way, i.e. Reading Tags, Pour On Treatments..

Large Range Of Components & Designs

Curved Races, L to R or R to L

Holding Pens 3mtr x 4mtr

Slide Gates

5.5mtr Long Gated Race

5.5mtr Long Hurdle Race Forcing Pens 2.5mtr & 3mtr Radius

Vet Access Cubicles

Using a large selection of standard sizes Enables systems to be fitted in nearly any situations, without having to have

expensive custom made / made to measure equipment.

Large Range Of Components & Designs

Points to identify before planning the system:

Quantity of cattle in each batch to handle.

Location ‐ easy to get cattle to and from

Located next to or under cover for clipping etc.

Good lighting (Daylight or electric)

Facilities required: Drafting gates (before & after the crate),Weigh Facilities, Loading Area, Unloading area, Overnight Housing.

Size of stock to be handled.

Fixed / Portable / Semi Portable

How many operators at a time will use the system

using

Design & Planning

On farm design

Google Sketchup

Mobile Handling SystemFully sheeted race way 

including full access cattle crate, reversed access 

cubicle, 2 sliding gates, cat walks on both sides, 12 x 

1.5mtr hurdles as standard, removable drawbar/7 pin 

wire/hydraulic hose, toolboxes fitted as standard, full road lighting, optional 

weigher. 

Mobile Handling SystemCan be easily combined with small or large fixed handling setup, providing customer with flexibility in the field and the yard, with forcing pens in the

yard/permanent site and ability to take the race to fields, summer grazing etc..

Portable Coral Handling SystemCost effective way of improving handling equipment  ‐ increasing

throughput & productivity and reducing risk of injuries. Suitable for small holders, hobby farmers with smaller quantities of

stock and looking to spend less.

Cattle Crush Range New Manual Yoke Crate

Automatic Self Locking Crate Standard or Improved Access

Scissor Yoke Manual Crate

Cattle Crush Range

Highland cattle systems including crates, races, access cubicles, foot

trim equipment etc... Fully sheeted design, foot pedal

door release for safety. Suitable for white park etc...

Cattle Crush RangeQ Catch Squeeze Crush

Enables one crush to handle all size’s off stock from calves to bulls.

Animals easier to work with, calmed by the squeeze. 

Quiet operation head yoke.

Access to both sides and rear of the restrained animal.

David Ritchie (Implements) LtdForfar, Scotland

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