Abstract: A locking stanchion for cattle in which a plurality of release rails are pivotally mounted at their lower ends on a bottom rail and connected at their upper ends to a reciprocally mounted master release rod for simultaneous movement between a vertical closed position and a slightly angular open position. A release bracket removably connects the upper end of each of the release rails to the master release rod for selective opening of any of the release rails while the others remain in closed position. The release bracket has one end thereof pivotally connected to the upper end of the release rail and the opposite end has a portion removably extending into an opening in the master release rod. A manually releasable mechanism which may include a spring maintains the bracket in engagement with the release rod.

Abstract: Cattle locking apparatus in which a plurality of fixed and release stanchions are located adjacent one another to define a row of head openings for the animals. Each release stanchion is pivotally supported, and is also pivotally connected at its upper extremity to a horizontally reciprocable release rod for simultaneous movement of all of the release stanchions between open positions, in which the cattle can place their heads in the head openings, and closed positions in which the cattle are locked in the apparatus. Decouplers are operative upon movement of the release stanchions to their open positions to permit the release rod to be moved back to its previous position independently of the now open release stanchions. The release stanchions each include an actuator located below the release stanchion upper portion, and also located in the head opening in the open position of the release stanchion.