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Post by familyfarm42 on Nov 11, 2016 23:14:07 GMT -5
Hello everyone,
My family and I recently purchased a Dexter Heifer! We will be having her AI'd this winter and I have been looking up Milk Stanchions. I have found some good designs but haven't found any that have actual detailed plans. If anyone has a simple design that works well I would really appreciate it! I'm hoping for something that I can use as a squeeze also for AI. Our dexter is very friendly but having her contained for AI I think would be best. Thanks in advance.
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Post by littlecowfl on Nov 12, 2016 8:47:23 GMT -5
If you want to contain the cow for unpleasant things, you can use a simple gate chute. The way that works is you have a small area and a long, heavy gate that will swing around to trap the cow against the fence or wall. Then, you have a way to quickly secure the gate to keep the cow from backing out of it. The fence or wall must be solid or have boards close together. Don't use a wire fence. You'll need to shoo the cow into the spot where the gate is swung close to the fence or wall. This is the biggest trick. Portable corral panels work well to make a quick lane directing the cow to the spot. Then, you can remove them when you are done. This works for things like vaccinating.
However, you really need a stanchion for pleasant things, such as milking and AI. You don't want bad associations with the place you are asking her to have milk let down or where you are hoping she is relaxed enough to improve conception rates.
Many people here have nice stanchions in their milk barns. We are getting ready to move, so we don't have one now. Can anyone post a picture of a milking stanchion? Otherwise, some neat pictures pop up when you google "cow milking stanchions".
You can also look into buying books on family milk cows and they should have some pictures or diagrams.
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Post by kansasdexters on Nov 12, 2016 9:55:04 GMT -5
It's very simple to restrain a cow for AI breeding or milking. Since many times, AI breeding (or milking) is done at night or early in the morning (when it is dark outside), it helps to have the chute inside the barn (out of the weather and in a well lighted area). A wooden chute, with a simple wooden or metal headgate and a back gate works well for AI breeding. A removable side panel makes this chute work well for milking.
We use our squeeze chute for vaccinations, tattooing, eartagging, vet exams, preg checks, taking blood samples, or any other procedure where the animals may experience discomfort and must be safely restrained. It is located outside of the barn and has an alleyway leading up to it from the corral.
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