Abstract: A floor assembly for livestock handling equipment features a pair frame members lying in a longitudinal direction and spaced apart from one another in a lateral direction transverse to said longitudinal direction, and at least one support tray connected to the frame members and spanning therebetween in the lateral direction. At least one mat is supported atop the support tray(s). The mat is made of rubber or other resilient material for improved footing and comfort of the livestock. The topside of each mat is flush with a topside of the frame members to provide an even floor surface across the full area floor area. The mat(s) are removable for cleaning, and open gaps around the support tray(s) are provided for drainage. Non-welded attachment enables convenient removal and replacement of the support trays in the event of rust or other damage.

Abstract: A livestock squeeze chute is operable in parallel-squeeze, V-squeeze and inverted-V squeeze configurations, and has a head gate with a novel guide track construction for robust rolling support of the gate panels, and a neck extender having uniquely positioned actuators that pull the neck extender upwardly into its working position. The squeeze panels are supported in suspended and hinged fashion from a set of movable supports that are displaceable laterally back and forth along a set of overhead support tracks. A pair of upper actuators are operable to move the hinged-equipped supports, and thereby relocate the tops of the squeeze panels, while a set of lower actuators are operable to relocate the bottom ends of the squeeze panels. The head gate's guide track uses two L-shaped bars and a cooperating U-channel to define a pair of enclosed channels in which roller carriages of the two gate panels are respectively received.

Abstract: A livestock force tub features a perimeter structure delimiting an interior space of said livestock tub, including a main peripheral wall spanning circumferentially around a central upright axis, an exit situated at or proximate a terminal end of the main peripheral wall and a supplemental wall section at an area adjacent the exit on a side thereof opposite the terminal end of the main peripheral wall. The supplemental wall section increases an angular span of the tub around the central axis to create an auxiliary space beyond the exit. This auxiliary space accommodates a possible uncooperative animal during unloading of the force tub while allowing others to still reach the exit. The supplemental wall section and a terminal section of the main peripheral wall have a lesser opacity than more significantly cladded areas of the main peripheral wall, whereby increased light admission and environmental visibility attract livestock toward the exit.

Abstract: A portable livestock handling apparatus features a set of arc-shaped wall panels carried on a rearmost section of a towable chassis, and pivotally interconnected to one another for swinging movement between deployed positions forming continuous arcuate extensions of one another to collectively define an arcuate wall span of the tub, and stowed positions folded up alongside one another to occupy a compact area on the chassis. The rearmost chassis section is longer on one side than the other, and features a chassis extension extendable from the rear end of the chassis to connect to one of the deployed panels. This elongated side and extension form the only ground-level connections between the chassis and the tub wall to minimize tripping hazards.

Abstract: A livestock head holder features a top holding member, a bottom holding member and an intermediate link connecting same. An operating lever connected to the bottom holding member so that downward pulling of the operating lever performs a closing stroke of the head holder that swings both holding members into place against the animal's neck. A lock and release mechanism automatically blocks the linkage from performing a reverse opening stroke that withdraws the holding members away from one another under raising of the operating lever. The operating lever is arranged to release the locking action during initial raising of lever to enable completion of the opening stroke, thereby using the same lever for all opening, closing and unlocking functions, whereas prior designs required a separate lock-release mechanism.

Abstract: An improved locking device is provided for one a livestock head gate in which two doors rollingly engaged on an overhead guide shaft for roving movement of said two doors toward one another into a closed position bracing a livestock animal between said doors and away from one another into an open position releasing said livestock animal. Primary and secondary shaft-receiving and locking members have respective first and second through-holes therein for receipt of the overhead guide shaft. A spring-receipt member is fixed to the primary shaft-receiving member for cooperation with a spring that tilts the primary shaft-receiving member into a locking position. The secondary movable locking member is retained beside the primary member in a manner enabling both tilting therewith and displacement relative thereto so as to bite onto the shaft at the perimeter of the second through-hole in the locking position.