Cattle race

A cattle race (Australia, British Isles and New Zealand) or alley (North America) [ [http://www.bowmanenterprisesnet.com/ Cattle handling equipment] ] [ [http://www.filsonlivestockequip.com/sweeps_&_alleys.htm SWEEPS & ALLEYS] ] is a narrow channel through which cattle (and also sheep, pigs or other animals) move one by one.

Overview

A conventional race is two parallel panels or fences with a space between them just wide enough for one animal. It is used for routine husbandry activities such as drafting (sorting) or loading animals via a ramp into a vehicle, or to place them one at a time in a "cattle crush" ("standing stock") for examination, marking or veterinary treatment, or in a squeeze chute for slaughtering. With adult cattle in a standard race, they form a queue which can only go forwards. [Doyle, Philip W., Beef Cattle Yards, NSW Dept. of Agriculture, 1979] An experimental humane design by Temple Grandin gradually narrows so that cattle have ample time to form the queue, and curves to encourage cattle to move forward in a controlled manner (see photo).

Calves (and other smaller animals such as sheep) can turn around in an adult cattle race, so require a narrower race. The width of some races is adjustable to accommodate different sized animals.

Cattle races may be portable, or may be a permanent fixture with a concrete walkway. Portable races may be made of steel or aluminium, but permanent ones are usually of steel (sometimes timber), possibly set in concrete, with solid or railed sides and a non-slip floor. Races are of sturdy construction to prevent damage to the race, or injury to animals or operators. Where floored in concrete, this is made wider than the race to prevent hooves catching between the bottom rail and the edge of the concrete. Lower parts of panels may be removable in the event of an animal becoming cast (fallen) or caught up.

The length of the race is usually determined by the size of the herd – a longer one requires less penning-up of a larger herd. Longer races may be curved, to improve the movement of the animals. A walkway may be provided on the outside of the race on one or both sides to allow the handler easy examination or treatment of animals from above.

There are gates at the start and end of the race to regulate the movement of animals. The entrance is from a small funnel-shaped or semi-circular "forcing pen" (or "forcing yard"), where a gate may be used to force cattle into the race. The gates are usually arranged so the operator cannot become trapped or injured by the cattle. This is achieved in several ways: using a sliding gates operated from outside the race, unlatching exit gates by a remotely operated cord, or for forcing pen gates, by a self-locking brake-latch which only allows movement forwards.The exit from the race may be through a "drafting gate" (or "shedding gate"), which swings to open one or other of several exits for separating animals into various groups.

Calf race

A calf race and cradle makes calf branding and castration much quicker and cleaner. These, too, are available in temporary or permanent styles. The steel transportable race and table cradle as shown in the photo are the most popular in Australia and New Zealand.

References

External links

* [http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/beef/equip/yard-design/under-100-head "Beef cattle yards for less than 100 head" (5th ed), New South Wales Department of Agriculture, 2003]
* [http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/beef/equip/yard-design/circular-250-head "Circular cattle yard - 250 head capacity" (2nd ed), New South Wales Department of Agriculture, 1999]
* [http://agriculture.kzntl.gov.za/portal/Publications/ProductionGuidelines/BeefProduction/CattleHandlingFacilities/tabid/117/Default.aspx Cattle Handling Facilities: Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs KwaZulu-Natal]
* [http://www2.dpi.qld.gov.au/beef/1227.html Beef cattle yards: Queensland Government Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries]