Selecting the right manual cattle chute for your operation can be a daunting task. It’s an important decision that will affect the efficiency, safety and overall success of your operation.

Although there are many skills and tasks required to successfully get beef cattle to market, special attention must be paid to the days just prior to slaughter.

To me, there is no job more enjoyable than working a pen of cattle with a team of stockmen that I call friends. There are many places across the country where processing day is as much a community event as it is a cattle management task that just needs to be completed.

Have you ever noticed in ranching that there’s “flow” and “no flow”? The days things click into place are great. Items on the to-do list get crossed off, and people and animals are happy.

Many beef producers use a bull to make sure calves are hitting the ground. However, artificial insemination is a viable option for farmers and ranchers.

It’s surprising how quickly winter can creep up on cattle producers each year. Many times, it appears in force, while cattle-handling equipment, pens, alleys and related infrastructure remain either in a state of disrepair or only partially complete.

While cow-calf operations, feedlots and packing plants grab the most press and media coverage, the North American beef industry performs well largely because of consistent value-based contributions from those in unheralded sectors.

Do you need a more efficient and stress-free cattle-working system for your operation? Explore the key differences between manual and hydraulic chutes before you make your decision.