How Do You Work Cattle Safely in a Chute?

Short answer: Chute injuries often come from a few things: trying to go too fast, too many people around the chute, not knowing how the levers or controls work, a gate left open, reaching through the bars when the animal isn't caught tight, and a head that's free to swing. Slow down, open and close every gate before the first animal comes up, restrain the head, keep your hands out of the bars, and keep the crew small enough that everyone knows their job. A properly equipped chute, used properly, is safer for you and for your cattle.

Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast

One of the most common mistakes, and one of the most common ways people get hurt, is trying to do things too fast. The old saying holds at the chute: slow is smooth, and smooth is fast. Make smooth, purposeful movements.

Know how your chute works before you use it

On a manual chute, the release lever and the longer leverage lever work together. If you pull the release while you're standing over the leverage lever, that lever can pop up and hit you. Learn which lever does what and where to stand.

On a hydraulic chute, the risk is grabbing the wrong control. One wrong move can let an animal out while somebody is standing in the way of the exit. Learn the controls before cattle are in the lane.

If you're still choosing a chute, our manual vs. hydraulic guide covers the differences.

Open and close every gate and latch first

Before you send cattle up the lane, open and close all the gates and latches, not just a look to see if they're shut. It does two things:

• It shows you everything works. A latch that sticks or doesn't catch shows up now, not when a cow is pushing on it.
• It reminds you which control does what.

You or somebody else may have opened a side door earlier and forgotten to close it. After you use any side door during the day, make sure it's latched again.

Keep hands and arms out of the bars

Reaching between the bars when the animal isn't caught tight is one of the easiest ways to get hurt. You may think it's tight when it's not, and the animal can still move.

Sometimes you have to reach in. When you do:

• Make sure the animal is caught tight first.
• Be extra careful.
• Make sure you have room and time to get out,.
• Get someone to help you work it.

Restrain the head

When the head isn't restrained, it moves a lot more while you give shots, check mouths, or put in ear tags. That's dangerous for the handler and for the cattle.

We've seen people hit in the face by a cow's head or horns when the head wasn't held. We've also seen inexperienced people tagging who didn't open the tagger fast enough after it snapped. They ripped the tag right through the ear: split ear, blood everywhere.

R&R head and neck restraints prevent a lot of this. Every R&R manual chute and every R&R hydraulic chute comes standard with some type of head restraint. Most of our hydraulic chutes give you a choice of two types: a neck extender or a head clamp.

The neck extender is a great option on a hydraulic chute. It pulls the neck out and stretches the animal tight so it can't twist and hit you, and it gives you the best access to the safe injection zone in the neck. On the Bull XL Hydraulic, neck extenders are standard, with a head clamp available.

Not too many people, and everyone knows their spot

Another common way people get hurt is having too many people there. Keep the crew to the people you need.

Make sure everyone working knows their specific job and where they're expected to be. If someone isn't where they're supposed to be, the chute operator should at least know where they are. And everybody needs to be paying attention.

Have a safe place for needles and tools

Syringes, needles, and other sharp or dangerous tools need a safe place to go between uses.

Keep a first aid kit close

Have a first aid kit nearby, and make sure it includes a tourniquet or something that can be used as one.

Keep the chute maintained

A chute that sticks is harder to work safely. Keep it clean and greased. Our maintenance page covers what to do.

Bottom line

A properly equipped chute, used properly, makes everything safer for the handler and the animals. Slow down, know your controls, work every gate first, keep your arms out of the bars, hold the head, and know where everyone is.

Questions about head restraints or neck extenders? Check our FAQ or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most common way people get hurt at a cattle chute? Trying to do things too fast, having too many people there, not knowing how the chute works, reaching through the bars when the animal isn't caught tight, and getting hit by a head or horns that weren't restrained. On a manual chute, pulling the release while standing over the leverage lever can make that lever pop up and hit you.

Why should you open and close every gate before working cattle? It confirms every gate and latch works, and it reminds you which control does what. Someone may have opened a gate earlier and forgotten to close it.

Is it safe to reach through the bars of a cattle chute? Only when the animal is caught tight, and even then be extra careful. You may think it's tight when it isn't. Make sure you have room and time to get out, or get someone to help.

What does a neck extender do on a cattle chute? It pulls the neck out and stretches the animal tight so it can't twist and hit you. It also gives the best access to the safe injection zone in the neck. Every R&R manual and hydraulic chute comes standard with some type of head restraint, and most R&R hydraulic chutes offer a choice of a neck extender or a head clamp.

What safety gear should you have at the chute? A first aid kit with a tourniquet or something that can be used as one, and a safe place to put syringes, needles, and other dangerous tools between uses.