Dr. Temple Grandin

[Little Cow]

How many of you guys have tried to incorporate her techniques into your chute systems?

I have my first degree from Colorado State and I was fortunate enough to hear her lecture. She is amazing. I've also read her books and really learned a lot about how animals see the world.

We have solid sides on our chute and they go through it like flowing water. We eventually want to make it into a J shape with dimensions similar to what Dr. Grandin recommends (not nearly as big though because we don't have number of animals that she usually designs facilities for), once we get our squeeze chute. We have a simple, homemade swing gate catch now. We will change that into a mostly enclosed AI chute eventually.

I am so lucky to have learned about cattle from her. I do think she kept me alive while working with some downright crazy animals back in college (I was a calf feeder at a dairy, a calver on several big ranches and I worked on one of the largest bison ranches in Wyoming).

Here's a link in case you aren't sure who she is:

http://www.grandin.com/

 

[GrassFarmerGalloway]

Thank you for the link! When I have more time, I will explore her techniques.

 

[wynedot55]

your right she does know how to build corral systems.

 

[Little Cow]

What makes her especially remarkable is that she is autistic. This is a special skill she has developed because, in her words, she can "think like a cow".

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Autisitc people are usually very bright. It just depends on the severity of the Autism as to whether or not they can interact with others and make a life for themselves.

 

[GrassFarmerGalloway]

Autisitc people are usually very bright. It just depends on the severity of the Autism as to whether or not they can interact with others and make a life for themselves.

Autistic people are very often exceptionally smart. I know a few, and even those that are not able to function enough to make a life for themselves, they usually have a skill that sets them apart from the world. Personally, I love autistic people.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

Yeah I kinda like her system. Except the thing about the curves and all don't necessarily work for some folks; I know one fella who said that his curved chute system don't work as well as the straight ones. I was thinking that it could be because it is a little longer than recommended. The straight chutes are fine if you don't got it too long (over 20 ft) and if you got solid sides.

The crowding pen could be square just so long as you got it wide enough and properly built so that the animals don't have as much trouble seeing the opening if you would with a crowding pen with right angles that tapers into the opening where you get baulking and turning around. I would like to get my hands on a curved crowding tub though, it doesn't surprise me that the cattle would go thru easy with that, so long as you got it set up proper.

I totally agree with the solid sides though, helps for calmer handling and the cattle don't see what's ahead or to the right or left of them that could get them worried and baulking.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

We don't have a chute here. But, I would wonder about the curves for the simple fact that our cattle, whether it be calves, heifers, or cows, don't like going around corners. Once they are far enough around to see they usually are fine.

 

[wynedot55]

straight chutes an allys always work best.

 

[Little Cow]

The curves are to avoid making corners and shadows. She recommends a particular angle so the cow can see that the chute keeps going.

She's a good lecturer but she warns you not to interrupt or she'll have to start all over again. You have to save your questions until the end of her lecture.

She was also my adviser as an Animal Science major. I dressed up like a cow for my church's youth party and had to stop in to pick up a form. I did a good job on the costume; even had an ear tag. Dr. Grandin peeked out of her office at me and laughed hysterically. It was so funny to see her laugh like that! She's usually so serious. She was so amused that she brought me into her office and as she took in the details of my costume, she laughed all over again. I guess I'm kind of proud to have made her laugh.