The traditional calf marking cradle has many disadvantages. The main one is that, unlike a cattle crush, it is impossible to design a cradle to cater for all sizes of calves. Another disadvantage is that the calf marking is often the first association that a calf has with humans. Utilising a traditional calf cradle where the calf is thrown off its feet, squashed, marked and then let go will leave a lasting bad experience.
National Stockyard Systems has designed a crush specifically for processing and marking calves.
Prototype testing the calf crush, marking neighbour’s calves. We refined and improved the calf crush after this. Pictured: Our neighbour, John Lidbury was more than happy to pass on some of his more than 50 years of cow and calf experience to our crush manufacturing manager, Adrian Gunthrie.
Calf crush and race with Swing – Anti Back. One calf entry. Near Side race is 1400mm high. Rail gap 147mm. Also available in Bullock Hybrid on the off side.