Sow Crate Converted To Calf Chute

Sow Crate Converted To Calf Chute A working crate for sows was easy to convert for working with calves says livestock producer Mark Burlage Weaning about 10 calves at a time 3 or 4 times a year Burlage couldn’t justify the cost of an expensive working chute However he could see that an uncle’s unused sow crate had potential “The sow head gate works fine for the calves ” says Burlage “I only made a couple of changes ” At one time the crate was used for putting rings in sows’ noses Burlage added 2 by 4-in spacers to the inside of the crate and screwed plywood to them That left just the right amount of space for newly weaned calves “I buy baby Holsteins at about 92 lbs and feed them milk replacer to about 120 to 130 lbs ” says Burlage “With the calf chute it’s easy to run them in band them for castration tag them and burn the horns off ” Burlage places the calf chute with the head gate slightly up hill When the head gate closes the calf pulls back and sets its feet That makes it easy to band “I can do all 3 operations in about 2 min with the crate ” he says “The next day they are laying quietly in the feedlot showing no signs of stress ” Since he only uses the crate a few times a year Burlage didn’t want to leave it sitting out He attached the wheels to the head gate end of the crate and a couple of handles that slide through brackets mounted to either side of the chute Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Mark Burlage 11743 318th Ave Kinross Iowa 52335 ph 319 639-2666

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