Concrete Cattle Handling Facility

Concrete Cattle Handling Facility LIVESTOCK Handling 28-4-25 Concrete is a cattleman's friend when it comes to handling the animals in the most efficient and least stressful way, according to producers in Canada who've set up concrete sorting tubs. Highland Feeders Ltd. of Vegreville, Alberta, has two of the concrete tubs (and three metal ones) at its 36,000-head operation. Owners Mike and Bern Kotelko say they much prefer the concrete tubs to the metal ones. Besides being strong, safe, and maintenance free, the concrete handling facility is quietà no loud clanging, creaking, and hollow echoing that is standard when working with metal gates, alleys and pens. "This type of handling facility minimizes stress on both the cattle and the people working with them. The solid walls limit the animals' view, and that encourages them to move forward without hesitation," Mike Kotelko says. "The smooth, solid surfaces greatly reduce injuries because there are no openings or cracks for their feet or heads to get through. Handling and loading goes quicker and easier, and we've found that the truckers and our staff all really appreciate it." Highland Feeders uses one of their concrete tubs for a loading/unloading facility outdoors, while the other one is housed inside separate "animal health unit" barns scattered throughout the feedlot. This is where stock is vaccinated and health problems are treated. Both concrete tubs are the same size. The outdoor tub is anchored down to a 30 by 30-ft. concrete pad and there is an 80 by 12-ft. concrete alley leading up to the 28-ft. diameter pre-cast tub. Instead of using concrete walls in alleyways leading up to the tub, they are closed in by hanging rubber belting from each rail of the pipe fence, giving cattle the illusion of a solid wall. The used rubber belting came from a potash plant, according to Kotelko. The whole pad is elevated to truck deck level thanks to a retaining wall, but the way the pens behind it lay, the cattle don't have to walk up or down any steep inclines. Kotelko says the precast sections of curved concrete were made by D&M Concrete Products Ltd. in Lacombe, Alberta, and they were set in place with a crane during installation of the tubs. The walls of the tubs are about 5 1/2-ft. tall and have a steel rail along the top. This is a safety precaution, according to Kotelko. The rail serves as something to grab hold of in case anyone was ever inside and needed to pull themselves out quickly. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Highland Feeders Ltd., P.O. Box 400, Vegreville, Alberta, Canada T9C 1R4 (ph 780 768-2466; email: mkotelko@highlandbeef.com; website: www.highlandbeef.com) or D&M Concrete Products Ltd. (ph 403 782-2122; 800 399-0741; email: sales@dmconcrete.com; website: www.dmconcete.com

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