Cattle Equipment Key Terms

Rope in these cattle equipment key terms
By Denise Brown If you own cattle, you should be familiar with cattle equipment key terms. Depending on the size of your herd, you may or may not have all this equipment on your farm.

Items like catch chutes are sometimes available as part of a veterinarian’s fees if you choose not to own your own. Other pieces, such as automatic waterers, are stationary. Read this guide to make sure you have the right equipment you need for your cattle herd.

Feed bunks

Feed your cattle in feed bunks to keep the grain or other material off the ground and to prevent waste. Find feed bunks constructed of materials that don't corrode for more value. Plastic troughs are available if you need portable feed bunks.
Try:  See the picture of a feed bunk on Lifetime Feed Bunks.

Hay rings

A hay ring surrounds a bale of hay. It prevents the cattle from pulling out excess hay and wasting it. You can find hay rings with solid bottoms or open bottoms. An open bottom hay ring allows younger cattle to feed. It's also easier to move because it weighs less.
Try:  K Bar F has an example of an open bottom hay ring.

Mineral feeder

A mineral feeder allows cattle to access their daily dose of salt and minerals. The feeder keeps these items off the ground so there is less waste. Most mineral feeders have a cover of some sort so the minerals don't get wet when it rains.
Try:  See the mineral feeder from Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment.

Cattle chute

A cattle chute is a device used to work cattle. Whenever cows need shots, pregnancy checks or any other veterinary procedure, cattlemen use these chutes. Some cattle chutes are portable while others are stationary. To operate a cattle chute, the rancher guides the cow into the chute. A device painlessly catches her behind her head and she can't go forwards or backwards in the chute.
Try:  Red River Portable Arenas has an example of a cattle chute.

Calf puller

Sometimes a cow has trouble calving. A calf puller attaches to the legs of the calf while it's still inside the cow. A gentle pressure from pulleys helps ease the calf out.
Try:  There’s a calf puller available from Valley Vet Supply.

Waterer

A waterer provides water to the cattle at all times in all weather. An open tank is one type of waterer but it can freeze during the winter months leaving the animals with a limited water supply. An all-season waterer needs both electricity and a water supply to operate.
Try:  See the cattle waterers offered by Nelson Manufacturing.