Abstract: An animal head gate includes head gate doors each having a squeeze bar to trap the neck mounted between upper and lower rails. Adjustment of the spacing between the bars uses an eccentric crank operated by lever which cooperates with two manual latches on a rail at maximum and minimum spacing. A neck sweep bar is mounted on one gate and movable from a retracted position to a position forward of the squeeze bar across the head gate so as to engage the neck of the animal in front of the squeeze bar and to turn the neck and head. The head gate is held closed by front and rear abutment members each of which is formed as a roller which rotates to reduce friction under load. Each gate includes an upstanding torsion bar which twists when forces are applied to the squeeze bars from impact with the animal.

Abstract: An animal head gate includes head gate doors each having a squeeze bar to trap the neck mounted between upper and lower rails. Adjustment of the spacing between the bars uses an eccentric crank operated by lever which cooperates with two manual latches on a rail at maximum and minimum spacing. A neck sweep bar is mounted on one gate and movable from a retracted position to a position forward of the squeeze bar across the head gate so as to engage the neck of the animal in front of the squeeze bar and to turn the neck and head. The head gate is held closed by front and rear abutment members each of which is formed as a roller which rotates to reduce friction under load. Each gate includes an upstanding torsion bar which twists when forces are applied to the squeeze bars from impact with the animal.

Abstract: Described herein is an animal handling device in the form of a cattle crush with automated headbail capture, back bar operation and positional sensing along with methods of use thereof. The crush and method offer automation for functions that in the art have been largely manual and inherently labour intensive, physical and even potentially dangerous for the operator and/or animal.

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.

Abstract: A livestock squeeze chute having a head gate assembly at the head end thereof with the head gate assembly including first and second head gates which dwell in a plane which is approximately at a 30-degree angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the squeeze chute. Power cylinders pivotally move the head gates between open and closed positions. Although power cylinders are preferred, the head gates could be manually moved between their open and closed positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. It provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Its implementation can reduce the human labor requirements associated with treating a herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply medications to the eyes of a cow having a stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure. Its use greatly reduces the risk of injury to the animal and the person administering the treatment to the animal. Head restraints of this invention offer the advantage of being capable of being affixed to existing chutes of differing sizes.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. It provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Its implementation can reduce the human labor requirements associated with treating a herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply medications to the eyes of a cow having a stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure. Its use greatly reduces the risk of injury to the animal and the person administering the treatment to the animal. Head restraints of this invention offer the advantage of being capable of being affixed to existing chutes of differing sizes.

Abstract: An improved squeeze chute apparatus, which may be portable or stationary, includes a frame having an entrance end, an exit end, a first side, a second side, an upper end and a lower end. A first upstanding sidewall is positioned at the first side of the frame and a second upstanding sidewall is positioned at the second side of the frame. The sidewalls are movable between inner and outer positions with respect to the frame. First and second entrance gate members, which are movable between open and closed positions, are positioned at the entrance end of the frame. First and second exit gate members, which are movable between open and closed positions, are positioned at the exit end of the frame. The gate members and sidewalls are operated by hydraulic cylinders having resilient mounts at the base and rod ends thereof. Each of the gate members has two hydraulic cylinders connected thereto. Each of the sidewalls has four hydraulic cylinders connected thereto.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. It provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Cattle being treated also tends to remain calm while being restrained utilizing the device of this invention. It offers much easier and faster means for providing care to positions on the head of the animal. Its implementation can accordingly lead to reduction in human labor requirements associated with treating a herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply eye drops, ointments, or powdered medications to the eyes of a cow having a very stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure.

Abstract: One embodiment of a remotely controlled apparatus for selectably admitting a large animal into and then selectably releasing the animal from a livestock chute uses the weight of the animal as its primary energy source for opening and closing the entry and exit gates. The livestock chute has a linking mechanism for communicating with the entry gate, the exit gate, a moveable floor, and a biasing force wherein the weight of the animal is used to overcome the biasing force to open the entry gate and to store energy that can be selectively activated to open the exit gate on the livestock chute.

Abstract: An improved squeeze chute includes opposing neck bar assemblies. Each neck bar assembly is mounted to a head door of a cattle chute of the type where the head doors pivot in unison between open and closed positions. Each neck bar assembly may be independently actuated to move the neck bar from a first position close to the head door and separated from the center line of the squeeze chute to a second position spaced away from the squeeze chute and closer to the center line of the squeeze chute.

Abstract: An entrance gate for a livestock sorter which includes a pair of entrance gate members which are movable between open and closed positions. The amount of opening movement of the gate members is selectively adjustable without the need of a wrench or the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. It provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Cattle being treated also tends to remain calm while being restrained utilizing the device of this invention. It offers much easier and faster means for providing care to positions on the head of the animal. Its implementation can accordingly lead to reduction in human labor requirements associated with treating a herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply eye drops, ointments, or powdered medications to the eyes of a cow having a very stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure.

Abstract: An improved squeeze chute includes opposing neck bar assemblies. Each neck bar assembly is mounted to a head door of a cattle chute of the type where the head doors pivot in unison between open and closed positions. Each neck bar assembly may be independently actuated to move the neck bar from a first position close to the head door and separated from the center line of the squeeze chute to a second position spaced away from the squeeze chute and closer to the center line of the squeeze chute.

Abstract: A headgate apparatus comprises a pair of vertically oriented shoulder bars separated by a space that is wide enough to accommodate the neck and narrow enough to prevent passage of the shoulders therebetween. A pair of vertically oriented head bars is mounted in front of the shoulder bars and separated by a space that is wide enough to accommodate the neck and narrow enough to prevent passage of the head therebetween. The head bars and shoulder bars are separated by a head separation distance sufficient to restrain backward and forward motion of the animal. A method of restraining an animal comprises maintaining the head separated from the shoulders by a distance substantially equal to the length of the neck.

Abstract: Apparatus for restraining the neck and/or head of a farm animal having a frame with a base, a top and opposed sides parts, which are spaced apart to allow at least the head of said animal to pass between these parts. Flexible belts extend between upper and lower locations connected to the frame and which are spaced respectively above and below the neck and head position of an animal to be treated, the belts having side portions connected to the frame sides by extensible means tending to hold these side portions apart. A fluid cylinder is attached to top ends of the belts so that when an animal has placed its head between the belt side portions these can be pulled inwardly against the side of an animal's neck or head to restrain movement of the animal.

Abstract: A bail assembly including bail means moveable between operative engaged positions and a disengaged position; all actuating means for quickly moving the bail means between the operative engaged positions and the disengaged position, and holding means for holding the bail means at any selected operative engaged position. Preferably the holding means is a selectively releasable self locking hydraulic cylinder assembly which includes adjustable holding means, a locking chamber associated with the adjustable holding means which may be filled to lock the adjustable holding means, control means for controlling flow of fluid to and from the locking chamber, and actuating means for selectively actuating the control means.

Abstract: Cattle head gate on a squeeze chute which includes a pair of gates which open outwardly, with each gate pivotally attached to the chute about separate vertical axes, the vertical axis of each gate being positioned longitudinally outside of the squeeze chute. Actuating arms connected to the gates swing the gates into a closed position with a longitudinal component of the gates' movement in the same direction as that of the animal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a collapsible chute useful for transporting animals or managing them in the confines of a barn structure. The chute consists of a plurality of mounted rails attached to the wall surface of a trailer or barn. A series of rear hinged panels are pivotal hinged around the fixed rails. The panels include a side gate and a opening gate recessed in respective frames. The front portion includes a headgate for holding confined animals stationary. The panels are pivotal hinged to one another in a configuration that permits them to be alternately secured in an expanded position for confining animals or rotated to a collapsed position when not in use. The chute is held in position to confine animals by locking braces secured to a fixed position rail and the hinged panels. A remote rope assembly permits the user to control the headgate portion. The chute is reversible from one opposing wall surface to another creating mirror images.

Abstract: A headgate that includes a pair of spaced apart stanchions operable to move from an open position to a closed position in which the animal is confined about its neck. A pair of opposing yokes, made of a durable resilient material such as rubber or plastic, are positioned along the stanchions to define in part the size and shape of the opening in the headgate within which the animal is confined when the stanchions are in a closed position. The size and shape of this opening may be easily adjusted, as desired, by varying the number, size and shape of the yokes and adjusting their spacing along the stanchions.

Abstract: An animal head gate having a base with a first and a second rod pivotally supported on the base. First and second gates are connected to the respective first and second rods. The first and the second gates each have an open position and a closed position. In the closed position of the first and the second gates, portions of the first and the second gates extend about a portion of the animal for restraining movement of the animal. An actuator assembly is connected to the first and the second rods for causing the second rod to rotate in a closing direction and in an opening direction in response to the first rod being moved in the closing direction and in the opening direction. The actuator assembly comprises a strap having a square or rectangularly shaped cross section with a substantially flat upper surface and a substantially flat lower surface, the strap comprising a plurality of individual strands woven and interconnected to form the strap.

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.

Abstract: A head gate mounted on a cattle squeeze chute through a series of spring-type shock absorbers allows the head gate to move a limited distance in the longitudinal direction from the squeeze chute when impacted by an animal as the pivoting doors on the head gate restrain the animal's forward movement through the chute.