Abstract: A cattle squeeze chute door opening assembly includes a cattle squeeze chute including a lateral wall that has an open end for having an animal extending therethrough. A door frame is attached to the cattle squeeze chute adjacent to the open end. The door frame includes a door support post spaced from the lateral wall. A space between the lateral wall and the door support post defines an access portal. The door frame including an upper frame member and a lower frame member. A gate is pivotally couple to door support post and is positionable in an open position or in a closed position. The gate has a lower edge positioned adjacent to the lower frame member. A foot actuator is mounted on the door frame. The gate is lifted upwardly and moved from a closed position to an open position when the foot actuator is actuated.

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: A calf handling apparatus incorporating a base having a forward end, a first wall fixedly attached to and extending upwardly from the base's forward end, the first wall having a lateral side and an oppositely lateral side, and the first wall including a pivoting head gate jaw; a second wall fixedly attached to the base, the second wall extending rearwardly from the first wall's lateral side; and a third wall, the third wall being hingedly attached to the first wall's oppositely lateral side for movement between calf holding and calf releasing positions, the third wall extending rearwardly from the first wall's oppositely lateral side upon movement to the calf holding position, the third wall being displaced oppositely laterally from the calf holding position upon movement to the calf releasing position.

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: 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: Handling apparatus having a rectangular compartment for carrying and enclosing a calf. A support rod is fixed to the bottom of the compartment and extends forward for insertion is a sleeve attached to a pick up truck for carrying the compartment at the rear of the pick up truck spaced above the ground. The compartment has an opening along one side with a pivotally mounted ramp mounted in the opening, which may be pivoted downward to the ground to serve as a loading ramp for loading the calf into the compartment. The compartment has a head gate at its other end for holding the head of the calf while in the compartment for tagging the calf. The compartment has an opening along its rear side with a screen door pivotally mounted along the opening for viewing the calf while in the compartment. The compartment has a cover with a heater in the cover for heating the compartment.

Abstract: A restraining chute for various types of livestock in the form of a parallelpiped frame, having side kick safety panels, a back gate, and an adjustable head catch. The safety panels are secured to longitudinal rails by releasable locking handles, which allow the panels to be moved along the rail and secured in place. The panels serve to prevent injury from the kick of the animal both before and after the animal is secured in the chute. The head catch is adjustable, consisting of two pivotal arms which can be pulled to secure the neck of the animal between the vertical pivot arm and the frame of the chute. Notches on the horizontal pivot arm fit onto a stationary peg mounted to the chute frame, allowing the head catch to be secured in place and properly adjusted. The animal is thus secured without complex restraints that tend to obstruct grooming and washing. A back gate on the chute enhances the safety of the user by preventing the animal from exiting the chute before it is fully secured therein.

Abstract: Cattle stanchion apparatus in which a plurality of fixed and release stanchions define a row of head openings for animals, the release stanchions tending to pivot to open positions. Double latch fingers at the upper extremities of the release stanchions are engagable with notches carried by a rotatable and axially moveable positioner rod. An operating mechanism is actuable to move the positioner rod and engage the notches into and out of possible engagement with the latch fingers The arrangement gives the operator the capability of moving all of the release stanchions to closed positions to lock the animals in the feeding stalls, or allowing the animals individually to actuate the system to lock themselves in, or allowing the animals to enter and leave the stalls as they wish. The latch fingers are manually manipulatable to quickly and safely release downed cattle from individual feeding stalls.