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Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 6:40 pm
by Chris Downward
I'm just in the process of building a new cow shed and have been looking for some sort of cattle crush for Dexters. the only ones i've seen seem to geared up for Bison!! Does anybody know of a manufacturer or is this acase of do it yourself?
Chris
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2006 8:00 pm
by Issy
IAE do a yearling cattle crush that used to be called a dexter crush. We have just ordered one as our wooden one is past it's best and having done a ''mock up'' to check sizes we recon our pumpkin shaped dexter will even fit in!!
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:46 am
by Mark Bowles
The IAE yearling crush is really good, the only problem we have is that some of the in calf larger non-shorts and especially the bulls wont fit in. We have just bought a new IAE crush the next size up especially to take the larger animal, a sort of just in case purchase, a bull with a strop on needing attention sometimes needs more than a couple of gates!
If you can afford it buy the galvanised version, you used to be able to buy a painted version a bit cheaper.
Mark
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 2:11 pm
by marion
Hi Mark, I'm from UK a very long time ago, but please tell me- what is "a strop"!? ???
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:59 pm
by SteveM
I think by "a strop on" mark means, to put it politely that the bull wishes to go somewere other to where you want it to, if it wants to go anywhere at all!
We have an IAE calf crush, the larger version which is too big for small dexter calves, but Ok for larger ones, and a full size taylor weigh crush which we have no problem with either dexter cows, dexter bull, or a large Guernsey.
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:37 pm
by Sylvia
"A strop on" (stroppy?) awkward and/or badtempered, which I'm sure none of Mark's bulls ever are.
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 6:39 pm
by marion
Isn't it funny how language evolves. Maybe it's regional or perhaps that expression has been coined sometime in the last 30 or 40 years (gasp, how could it have been that long ago).
Sorry to stray off-topic. Is it only the larger Dexter herds that use a crush, do some make do with other arrangements or is there a cut-off point at which you say "I've gotta get a crush"!? :p ..marion
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 7:21 pm
by Peter thornton
Yes
The second time you get kicked!
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:11 pm
by Louisa Gidney
Blimey! I've been kicked more than twice in 20 years and still have never found a crush to be necessary. I tend to go for Heath Robinson contraptions of gates, hurdles & lots of baler twine.
Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 9:13 pm
by marion
Well, I guess I'm overdue! Time to start putting the pennies in a jar for the next "cow" necessity, or just make a "better" rig-up with the miscellaneous (s)crap and twines :laugh:
Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 10:52 am
by Issy
We have only just decided to go for a crush as we only have two cows and offspring and have always managed with our wooden homemade one. Until one of the cows had to have her eye injected and ended up on her back in it (two months pregnant) having managed to climb out over the door that had always held her before with both myself, my husband (not a weakling!!) and the vet holding her halter - legs and whatever we could get hold of!! This is a cow that in normal handling I can do whatever I want to including picking up her feet. She is a very friendly laid back cow - normaly. With Dave working away from home more and more it was decided that the expence was now necessary to avoid injury to all concerned. Chances are of course that we won't have to have anything as intrusive done for a long time but it will be there if necessary.
Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 11:38 am
by Chris Downward
Many thanks for all your replies. I'm looking at the IAE "economy crush" which is about £300 cheaper than the yearling one---any comments?
Chris