What squeeze chute to get?

[GLENMAR]

Can anyone with horned cattle recommend a squeeze chute for around $5000.? I have looked at the Powder River Longhorn Chute, but it's around $7000. We have Scottish Highlands.

 

[WildRoseBeef]

I've heard some not-so-great reviews of PR. Sioux Steel (Tuff up here) I've heard is one of the best squeeze chutes around, but not all that cheap either. I don't know if you could get 2W down there or what their prices are, but it almost sounds like you might have to be doing some looking at some auction sales.

I've heard of some longhorn producers just using a medina gate to work with their longhorns. Granger Cattle Co. shows how they use it: http://www.grangercattleco.com/medinahinge.html

 

[BrownSheep]

Powder river is the stuff we drool over and then promptly turn and look at the cheaper stuff.

I'll have to look at what we have. It's OLD though so no idea if it is still being manufactured. I would keep your eyes on craigslist. Just looking at my craigslist I found I guy who does custom chutes for long horns for $2400 and a powder river for $1000.

Most of the stuff I've seen yaks worked through they just tilt their head back and forth through. I have seen one horror story of one bull that freaked out and broke off a horn as a 2 or 3 year old while in a chute.

 

[greybeard]

Don't know what your budget is, or the temperment of your cattle but you might get by with a Powder River Value Chute with the manual option (NOT self catch!!) for around $2800.
http://www.farmranchstore.com/squeeze-chutes/manual-value-chute
Manual Value Chute Order No. 001-01003

The Value Manual chute provides a wide opening manual head gate for catching cattle, including horned cattle. The Dual sided V-Squeeze provides enough leverage to control mid-sized animals. The tailgate is a smooth operating drop gate that has a spring latch that will lock the gate up as well as down. The value series represents the best features in an entry level all steel squeeze chute.

Item Number:001-01003

(there will be a shipping/freight charge unless you have a Powder River distributor close to you and they have one in stock)
In Virginia:
Woodville Farm Woodville Va
Scottsfork Fence Supply Farmsville Va
Royster Clark, Chase City Va
Rockingham Cooperative, Waynesboro Va
Rockbridge Farmers Coop Lexington Va.
http://www.powderriver.com/DealerFinder.aspx

You can get less expensive squeeze chutes, but you need a wide opening one if you want to work horned cattle. I don't think Preifert makes a wide opening head gate.
Your choices boil down to
1. Dehorn them and buy a less expensive chute.
2. Keep the horns and spend the $$$$
3. Medina gate

 

[jhm47]

I bought a new Sioux Steel chute with palp cage last summer. It's much better than our old chutes. Especially like the drop down sides. Nice chute for the $$$.