Recently, on social media, a heart broken cattle owner shared an account where one of his cattle had caught a leg in the area between the top of a gate and the gate post. He recalled the sound of the leg breaking, which no one would ever forget. Most people agreed, it was a "freak accident" and probably would not happen again. However, there are some corral designs that are traps. They are "welcoming" problems. It is just a matter of time -- they will happen again.
The mortal enemy of cattle horns and legs is vertical parallel openings in heavy use areas of cattle work. When open vertical spacings connect with horizontal livestock movement, it may not be a pretty thing. If a ranch works a lot of cattle these freak accidents will happen repeatedly.
This popular brand of chute has 24 vertical parallels which can trap a leg or horn. Most commercial cattle chutes are designed with no concern about broken horns or legs. Thousands are made, all vertical, and it even looks odd to some when chute designs are horizontal.
Many cattle meat processing plants are also designed with no humane concern about broken legs. Some plants will not take Texas Longhorns for slaughter because they may get hung in their alleys. If the plants were concerned about humane handling they would make horizontal flowing sides on the entry areas. This would allow smooth movement and no hang-ups. Government kill-floor inspectors are concerned about use of cattle prods and any kind of animal abuse, yet are totally blind about vertical parallel designs which cause their most problems. Correctly designed horizontal sides for kill-floor entry alleys are the most humane part of the pre-kill effort. It is not a horn or leg problem, it is a flawed alley problem.
Think about this: Just because someone knows how to kill and cut up steaks does not mean they know how to handle cattle humanely. Just because a worker is professionally skilled at welding aluminum, doesn't mean they know how to haul cattle. Just because a person owns land, cattle and corrals, does not prove they know how to design humane systems.
Many corral panels are economically made and shipped from China to the USA. They come to the USA by the ocean container loads weekly. It it more economical to bend corners than to weld square corners. This rounded top panel corner is a funnel which can catch a leg. If an unruly animal rears up on a panel and slides in the rounded corner, they are trapped -- that horrible bone-breaking sound may be heard. Another trap is the space between panels, which varies in width wherever panels are connected.
Bry Chute and Crowding Panels eliminate the vertical "traps" that have caused over 90% of livestock handling accidents; not just damage to cattle, but handlers who reach through tight verticals for vaccinations and health procedures. The BRY Crowding Panel -- as with the BRY Chute, easily and safely accommodates wide horned cattle. This same design also makes the flow of all cattle breeds safer when being squeezed, loaded or confined into an area they may fear. This is not an imported "beer can" thick panel that can be carried under one arm.
The BRY Crowding Panel has optional hinges and the first changeable/reversible bolt latch. It converts from a temporary corral panel, to a permanent sturdy chute alley, to a 180 degree swinging gate. Panels are with or without 1" bolt latches and 180 degree hinges for maximum versatility.
The Bry Crowding panel/gate is designed for safety with NO funnel to trap legs at the top nor space between the gate and the gate post. It eliminates all vertical parallels. It is simple, but the most horn and leg-safe design of any panels available.
Bry Crowding Panels are designed with lag bolt holes to attach on post sides or fronts. Pre-drilled holes are staggered eliminating any vertical parallels to break horns or legs. If spacings are wide and designs are horizontal, it is virtually impossible to break horns or legs. Be safe.
The Bry Crowding Panel is Hi Tensile steel, 14 ga. 1-3/4" square tubing. Hi Tensile steel is 65% stronger than mild steel which is used by most panel manufacturers. Square tubing is 47% stronger than round tubing. Panels are 8', 10' or 12' long and 52" tall. When installed 12" above ground the full height can be 64." The Bry crowding panel has pre-drilled bolt holes for permanent post attachment using 3/8" bolts or screw-in lag bolts. The BRY Crowding Panels allow a smooth horizontal flow of all types of cattle with no vertical parallels to cause appendage hang-ups or breakage. The total horizontal design makes the BRY safer for all horned cattle during crowding. The BRY can resist large amounts of stress from rough stock without damage. The optional smooth-turning BRY hinge can be welded to steel or bolted to strong wooden posts. The new 3000 lb test design, 1" bolt latch may be attached up, down, or either side, at any height convenient, or totally removed. The BRY Crowding Panel is a completely welded unit that is nearly indestructible.
All BRY products are dip coated burgundy color with all surfaces coated. When you are tired of the cheap stuff, and want something built stronger, safer, to last longer -- choose the BRY SYSTEM. Designed by Longhorn cattlemen 50 years in the making.
For more information:
https://www.texaslonghorn.com/bry/index.cfm?con=panels
DCC Equipment, 740 758 5050
DCC Equipment
35000 Muskrat
Barnesville, Ohio 43713
740 758-5050
info@brychute.com
www.brychute.com
