Abstract: Livestock handling equipment characterized by a modular alley construction employing shared bows with hole-penetrated front and rear faces for fastening of elongated structural beams and coupling of side panels at both of said faces. Longitudinally protruding coupling members on said side panels for engaging said holes include grooved and longitudinally extendable/retractable pivot pins at the bottom ends of the side panels. Selectively mountable/removable cladding members enable convenient strategic customization of cladding coverage to optimize livestock flow via pressure zone techniques, physical intervention and/or light-based attraction, and also enable physical access for inspection and treatment of the animals.

Abstract: Livestock head gate assembly configured to be installed as part of a livestock chute for holding an animal, including a head gate frame and a pair of laterally spaced gate panels laterally shiftable relative to each other between a releasing condition and a holding condition. The gate panels cooperatively define a gate opening, with the gate panels permitting the animal to move through the gate opening in the releasing condition and removably engaging a neck of the animal in the holding condition to restrict animal movement through the gate opening. The head gate frame is configured to be pivotally attached to the chute frame at a pivot joint defining a lateral pivot axis such that the head gate is swingable away from the chute frame toward the holding condition to orient the neck along a longitudinal direction and restrict movement of a head of the animal.

Abstract: A modular trailer system is disclosed. The system may include variously configured modular rails, tie down systems, fender mounting systems, cable fences, modular ramps, and/or mountable accessories whereby the versatile trailer system may be readily reconfigured.

Abstract: A system (20) for measuring relative front (12, 13) and hind leg (16, 17) positions of a standing ungulate, the system including a sensing area within which an ungulate to be measured stands and which comprises a plurality of discrete linear sensor regions (30) spaced a known distance apart within the sensing area, each sensing region having a sensor operatively associated therewith, which sensor is responsive to the presence of the lower part of a leg within a sensing region and; a processor for receiving data from each sensor, identifying those sensor regions within which a lower part of a leg is present and based upon the distance between the identified sensor regions, determining the relative front and hind leg positions.

Abstract: An animal restraint apparatus includes a base having a fixed side extending upward from the base and a movable side secured to the base spaced from and facing the fixed side of the apparatus. The front end of the apparatus includes transverse panels defining an opening for the head and neck of an animal to extend through. The fixed and movable sides of the apparatus support side panels for engaging an animal positioned within the apparatus. The rear end of the apparatus is provided with a gate pivotally mounted on the apparatus frame.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. This head restraint has a lower neck restraint, an upper neck restraint which is mounted to the lower neck restraint, a nose restraint which is mounted to the lower neck restraint, and a means for affixing the head restraint to the cattle chute. The upper neck restraint is adapted to swivel into a position forming an inverted U-shape over the top of the lower neck restraint, and the nose restraint is adapted to swivel by horizontal motion into a position forming a closed U-shape with the lower neck restraint.

Abstract: An animal squeeze chute having a side panel tiltable toward an opposing side panel for restraining an animal in the chute. The tiltable panel is moved by an operator-actuated handle and includes a lock which is automatically released when the handle is being operated to tilt the panel toward the opposing panel but locks and prevents movement of the tiltable side panel when the operator releases the handle. The lock is released by movement of the handle in the opposite direction to allow the handle to be operated to return the tiltable side panel to its position away from the opposing side panel and thereby release the animal.

Abstract: A portable squeeze chute apparatus. The apparatus includes a chute having opposing sidewalls, an entrance end and an exit end. The sidewalls are selectively pivotable toward one another in order to inhibit lateral movement of an animal positioned in the chute. Movement of the sidewalls is actuated through a control chain which is connected to the sidewalls through a mechanical linkage. The control chain is selectively latched in position by a lock which is pivotally connected to the chute. The lock includes a tubular body through which the control chain passes. The tubular body includes a notch which selectively engages the control chain. A tailgate having interconnected door sections is mounted on the entrance end of the chute for selectively admitting an animal to the chute The tailgate and the sidewall squeezing mechanism include special mountings and bumpers which are adapted to reduce noise generated by operation of the apparatus.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restraining an animal within an animal squeeze. The animal squeeze has a “V” shaped passage in which the animal is suspended by relative movement of the sidewalls and the floor. A pressure member is movable into an operative position engaging a back of the animal and restraining the animal. An animal, such as a deer, suspended in a “V” shaped passage, will normally continue to struggle. However, when pressure is exerted upon the back of the deer by the pressure member, the deer ceases to struggle.

Abstract: An improved portable squeeze chute apparatus and method includes a chute having an entrance end, an exit end, opposing sidewalls, a base, and a superstructure. Each of the sidewalls has an openable upper panel and lower panel for accessing upper portions and lower portions, respectively, of an animal positioned in the chute. Each of the sidewalls is selectively pivotable about a plurality of generally horizontal axes in order to immobilize lateral movement of an animal positioned in the chute. An exit gate having a neck clamp, positioned at the exit end of the chute, has interconnected neck clamp side portions for selectively clamping the animal's neck. An entrance gate has interconnected entrance gate side portions for selectively preventing the animal from exiting rearwardly from the chute. Various portions of the apparatus are each controllable by a respective hydraulic piston and two-way valve arrangement.