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Manual Chutes

P

Pen Checker

Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2010
Messages
9
Location
Saskatchewan
I just got back from the Denver Stock Show and some time back someone asked about manual chutes. I was looking at all types and anyone wanting one should look at Priefert. They make the slickest chute I have ever seen. We wanted one that could go in a hospital area that we didn't to adjust and fiddle with when cattle are differant sizes or have horns and this one does that easy without any adjusting. A side benefit which none of the others had was it's Manual AND Automatic! You can set it on automatic and get in behind one to bring them in if your by yourself. Apparently the have a dealer in Alberta that has had them put neck extenders on as an option so they qualify for our program money. They were at Agribition in Regina but I never got past social hour in the swamp!!
 
i bought a new Priefert(S04 model) about 5 years ago. i do have some complaints about it. 1. the way the front and rear gates slide on the bottom..a person has to clean them out after every use if the temp is low enough to freeze, otherwise you'll be out there with a screw driver trying break the shirt out so you can use it. 2. i don't like the squeeze coming from one side. cattle stand much better when the squeeze comes from both sides. 3. if u have a cow in the chute with cows in the alley and they get to pushin on the front cow, i've had that front cow get a hoof stuck between the frame and the rear end gate of the chute. i've sored up some cows pretty bad by the time i got them free.

i bought the Priefert because of funds available at that time. i would have much rather had a Powder River, and i'm considering trading out the Priefert for one this spring.

all of this is just my opinion. :)
 
I looked at a chute here just yesterday. It's new and on consignment at the local implement dealer's place. With the exchange rate, he's asking about $2500 for it.

It looked short to me, but I'm not really familiar with them.....we do it the hard way at the ranch. :?
 
Justin said:
i bought a new Priefert(S04 model) about 5 years ago. i do have some complaints about it. 1. the way the front and rear gates slide on the bottom..a person has to clean them out after every use if the temp is low enough to freeze, otherwise you'll be out there with a screw driver trying break the s*** out so you can use it. 2. i don't like the squeeze coming from one side. cattle stand much better when the squeeze comes from both sides. 3. if u have a cow in the chute with cows in the alley and they get to pushin on the front cow, i've had that front cow get a hoof stuck between the frame and the rear end gate of the chute. i've sored up some cows pretty bad by the time i got them free.

i bought the Priefert because of funds available at that time. i would have much rather had a Powder River, and i'm considering trading out the Priefert for one this spring.

I wonder if they haven't ajusted something on the newer models as the sides were right down I didn't see where they could get a foot stuck. I did notice that back gate issue. We have to clean that floor at the back on the ones we have now. I liked the way the side were curved like a basketball so knowthing can go down.

all of this is just my opinion. :)
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Pen Checker said:
Justin said:
i bought a new Priefert(S04 model) about 5 years ago. i do have some complaints about it. 1. the way the front and rear gates slide on the bottom..a person has to clean them out after every use if the temp is low enough to freeze, otherwise you'll be out there with a screw driver trying break the s*** out so you can use it. 2. i don't like the squeeze coming from one side. cattle stand much better when the squeeze comes from both sides. 3. if u have a cow in the chute with cows in the alley and they get to pushin on the front cow, i've had that front cow get a hoof stuck between the frame and the rear end gate of the chute. i've sored up some cows pretty bad by the time i got them free.

i bought the Priefert because of funds available at that time. i would have much rather had a Powder River, and i'm considering trading out the Priefert for one this spring.

I wonder if they haven't ajusted something on the newer models as the sides were right down I didn't see where they could get a foot stuck. I did notice that back gate issue. We have to clean that floor at the back on the ones we have now. I liked the way the side were curved like a basketball so knowthing can go down.

all of this is just my opinion. :)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

i had to go back and look, but i bought mine 3 years ago. my memory is good, it's just not very long. :? as far as i know they haven't changed anything since i've bought mine. and as for as nothing being able to go down in a Preifert....THINK AGAIN! :wink:
 
I bought a Stampede Chute a couple of years ago and have been completely satisfied. The design allows for a one man operation with very little maintenance outside of greasing a couple of times a year.
 
I had a priefert head catch in my calving barn and it was just junk. It never did work well. It had the option to use it automatic or manual and since I usually don't have an assistant I tried using the automatic option. The cows would hit it and since the panels have to go up before they can slide down, the cows would usually have their heads out and it caught nothing but their noses. A gentle old milk cow it might have worked fine but it sure didn't work for range cows. I much prefer the 2w products.
 
We have an old late 70's early 80's WW chute. It works great when you have to work cattle bu your self. I love the self catching head gates it has. The only thing I don't like about the Priefert that I have seen it don't open up full for the cow to walk out. But those are the ones I seen.
 
We hated the WW chute we had. The tailgate has to go up and a
cow in the alley can get her feet up on it when it is in closed
position. And the headcatch was dangerous with that pipe sitting
our like it does. One vet broke a finger on it, and right at the
start of calving season. We had a big calf get
his foot caught in it...anyway, we didn't like it one bit.

We bought a Morand and it's a great chute. I think the only one
better is a Stampede. I haven't seen one, but have heard nothing
but good about them. The only thing that needs changed on the
Morand, in our opinion, is the gears that run the squeeze could
be closer together. Not a big deal, but it would be nice to be able
to squeeze just a bit more at times.
 
Pearson's are good chutes. They are scattered near and far as well as they have been in business forever. I don't like the sliding rear gate, it will sure build your muscles if you run several hundred through in a day. I have to say that I prefer to manually run the hydraulics. I have looked at the stampede chutes and they look to be pretty good. I have used a fore-most and it wasn't bad.
 
I'm pretty much sold on the Lakeland group's Q-catch. One of the best parts is how quiet they are. If you need to work alone you can run the manual head gate from the rear of the chute.
 
I have a Pearson-it works good to A'I and work mature animals-it's not the greatest design to brand yearlings in-a sternum bar might help that. It does give you a workout-it can be hard to release the squeeze pressure if it's squeezed tightly. Morand chutes could be a bit longer-it's nice to be able to put a pole behind a cow without catching her head. Stampede's backup bar system is a bit low an animal can almost kick over it. I was a happy to retire the old W-W yearling choker. I've got to A'I cows in almost every chute known to man over the years-they all have their little ideosyncracies. I've never used a Q-catch yet-I'll have to check one of those out. Hi Hog makes a pretty good all around chute-the endgate can come down and hit the back of your neck though-don't ask me how I know lol.
 
We've pretty well wore out our old Powder River and hope to upgrade this year. First choice is a Stampede with a manual headgate: will be doing some measuring & hopefully can afford an entire handling setup that will handle everything from calves to mature bulls.
Have a friend that bought a Lakeland handling setup & he's dissapointed..too many small things that aren't user friendly...he prefers his older handling facility with a Stampede chute added to it.
 
I like thorsen. Ranchers from stevensville who had a welding shop. They'd give a vet I know who was kinda a dealer for them a new one to pull around every yr or two---told him they wanted input from him and his customers on what to do different.

On the endgate, their theory is if you make overhead types stout enuf not to get bent up, it's too heavy to pull all day. And the latches that some have to hold them shut or open can be trouble. Thorsen endgates are split, open sideways. Work good enuf that if you're giving preweaning shots and a calf sticks his head in while you're closing it, you can usually hold him, if you want too.

Their controls are just about all ropes---I've hit my head on levers on every powder river I've ever walked by.

Thorsen's portable option is kinda neat: the wheels are way to the back, you don't ever take them off and side exit will still work. Got a little hydraulic deal you just run with jack handle at about shoulder height to put them back down.

The hitch stays with too---goes right to the dirt and covered with tread plate.

The vet's wife is little---she could go get a portable chute that was left set up by herself. Think they had tail lites wired in too.

They build stuff stout---probably my only gripe is the side you take out to open tits, etc, is kinda heavy and awkward.

I'm not nuts about 'self catching' headgates---seems like it gets cows in the habit of taking a run at 'em---could just be me? The tail gate on a thorsen is spring loaded, if you're by yourself and walking a cow in, you can just reach up, over center a lever and the endgate closes. My chute is extra long, with places to stick a pipe thru behind them----you can get a pretty good sized cow in and still have the headgate shut in her face.

I like chutes that squeeze from both sides---don't think cattle fight as much when you ain't trying to push them off balance.

the vet's hydraulic chute has a bar on the front that pushes cows head to one side---Really takes the hassle outta working on that end, putting in brisket tags, etc
 

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