The Standard Plans

We are constantly updating our range of standard plans / conventional force plans. We have 100’s of additional plans on file to cater for conventional cattle handling, low stress stock handling, combination sheep/cattle yard, and plans utilising our rotary forces. For enquiries please contact us.

The Service

The sales team represents over 100 years of practical stock experience
Full computer aided drawing (CAD) to assist in the design of your custom yard.
Full range of detailed mirror reversed plans available
Delivery and erection assistance available

Quote: Murray Schaefer: “The literature and the web are littered with diagrams and explanations of flight zones and cattle movement. Many refer to exact diagrams of “points of balance, movement initiation point, 45 degrees to the wither, 90 degrees to the eye, blind spots, edge of flight zone” etc. etc.

Basically, to try to keyhole every animal this way is garbage. All of the above will vary depending on the handler’s presence, the individual animal, temperature, time of day, yard surface, wind, previous association with handlers, dogs, timing and direction of handler movement etc. No two animals are the same. If you do not believe me then go and watch a campdraft. No two runs are the same.

I believe that efficient stock handling can be summed up as – correct position, timing and amount of pressure, and, correct timing and release of pressure – .”

The codes of the yards refer to average working capacities not a mythological made up figure that some other yard suppliers quote. See below info for more details.
The National Stockyard Systems numbers will work for that number of average sized cattle. (A bit like a kitchen where 8 people can stand in it or 2 people can work in it. If you had 8 people standing in the kitchen, nobody could work in it).

AREA REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKING YARDS

Realistic yard working capacities are quoted. Generally capacities and total holding numbers are based on area requirements to handle and work 400kg cattle.
Cows and calves will require double this area.
A circular yard with the same perimeter has a greater surface area than a square or rectangle yard (and stock flow better).
Holding capacities quoted on our plans are based on 400 kg dry cattle
Cows and calves should never be tightly forced or in the race together

	Holding Yards	Forcing Yards
100 - 300 kg	1.3m²	0.6m²
300 - 500 kg	1.4m²	1.0m²
Over 500 kg	1.6m²	1.2m²
Cows & Calves	2.2m²	2.2m²

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Conventional Force

A well designed race entry yard and correct operator body position aids flow from the race entry yard into the race.

(Many of the problems that people experience when working their cattle are poorly designed “force” yards and a lack of understanding of body position in relation to cattle flow, and cramming too many in the force).