[ Post a Response | Close Window | Print ]

Longhorn
Posted by Catherine in VA at 2015-08-10 21:58:11
I asked this on another board I belong to, but figured I'd ask here too. I sold the few longhorn I had this spring. Poor quality stock and I needed to take the cattle program in a different direction at that time. I miss them though. I'd like to start up again with a few quality cows. I want to be ready with appropriate handling facilities this time. The one occasion a member of the old herd required vet care she was so weak that I was able to hold her up against the shed wall with a gate. That's obviously not going to work 99% of the time.

What kind of chutes are people using for them? Manufactured equipment costs
a fortune. Apparently the homemade ones I've seen are properly called a "medina hinge". I might be overthinking this but i can't figure out how you get the horns to go through the bars of the gates on one of those things. Anyone have them and able to explain how the medina gate idea works?
Response by Ken P. at 2015-08-11 10:03:38
There is a setup of 2 gates One fixed the other mounted about 18" away. The horozental bars have verticals only at the ends, allowing the horns through and movement forward and back. The outside of the steel bars have tie off cleats so a rope can be tightened up behind the cow, keeping the cows head far forward and the gates together, holding the cow.
The company can be found on the net with pictures of the the cattle gate.
Response by rdennis at 2015-08-11 10:53:23
The longhorn chutes I have seen have bars that runn horizontal to the ground.. most of our cattle are corrientee and some crossed with longhorn., most people don't know the difference, the corrientee, don't get as big and usually don't have as long of horns.. we use a standard cattle chute and stop them before their head goes thru' the gate and deal with then=m that way or use the chute we carry all the time, it's called a rope and gets snubbed to the saddle horn after you catch the critter.. :D Sorry, never seen a head gate called a median.. maybe it's like a buffalo chute and has a gate in front of it they can see there', called a crash gate... but can't walk thru'.. after they stick their heads thru' the head catch and you catch them, then you can swing the other part, that sticks out in front, out of the way… always thought it would work good for horned cattle...
Response by arlee at 2015-08-11 18:05:23
you could always learn to rope them---thousands were done this way in the past--old school still works
Response by KC Fox at 2015-08-12 09:25:40
giving time they will go through a normal chute, mine were only put through a chute 2 times in all the years that I owned them. I saw no need to put them through a chute any more than necessary. I have roped several for various reasons. We front foot, heel rope,horn rope or rope by the head.
Response by Catherine in VA at 2015-08-13 07:52:38
I am horseless at the moment :( . I've roped small calves from the ground before, though. Are you just knocking the cattle to the ground and tying them? I don't mean to sound obtuse. But roping isn't common around here.
Response by Don McAvoy at 2015-08-13 08:46:08
KC, it reminds me of Baxter Blacks 20 questions that shouldn't be asked! The one that I remember is Dad did you realy want to rope that cow by it's left front foot?
My couson watched his father ride out a storm on a colt. His quote was you forgot to wave your hat! He was about 7 then.
Response by KC Fox at 2015-08-13 21:42:36
We doctor in the pasture if you rope both hind feet or both front feet with a good horse you can keep them down long enough to doctor or milk a cow out some so a calf can suck her. or put a prolapse back in and sew her up.
Response by Dan in Illinois at 2015-08-14 19:27:52
Put in small sturdy pen then rope and tie to sturdy post.Works every time.
Response by Buffy at 2015-08-15 15:33:18
Google Dickinson Cattle Co in Ohio and look at the "Bry chute they sell. Might give you some ideas,Cowboying might work for some until you need to rope the bull.
Response by KC Fox at 2015-08-16 09:58:13
we Dr bulls to it don't make any difference. the biggest bull only weighed 2500 lbs foot, rot on right hind foot. the only way to rope was front foot him did that 3 times one horse held him to Dr.
Response by Catherine in VA at 2015-08-16 19:49:32
Probably cheaper to build a specialized chute than to get a good roping horse, I'm afraid. I've seen folks rope off ATVs. But given my decidedly novice skill level in the roping department.....better to have the horse's brain power to rely on. I'll add ranch horses into the 5 year plan. I once roped a calf from the ground and had the loop slip down her body until I had only a back foot. It wasn't pretty but it worked, lol

Post a Response:
1) Enter your name and response.
2) Click "Send" to post your response on the Front Porch bulletin board.
3) Your response will be reviewed for appropriateness before being posted for public view.

Name:
Response:
     
[ Close Window | Print ]

Subscribe Homepage Contact Us
rural heritage logo    PO Box 2067, Cedar Rapids IA 52406-2067
E-Mail: