Design a cattle-working facility for better family relations

By Katelyn Brockus

Kansas State Research and Extension

As farmers and ranchers, we are known for being thrifty individuals. We do not spend money where it isn’t necessary, and we are all always preparing ourselves for the next down turn in the markets. However, how efficient have you been when working cattle with a facility that is far from functional? In my case, there are usually sorting sticks thrown at the ground and flag whips end up on the backside of humans instead of being used for its original purpose. Trust me. I am sure that we have all been there at some point. I am not saying that we have to go out and buy the most expensive facility that you can find. Odds are those are not going to be your most functional anyways. However, I am saying that we need to find the most effective and useful tool for your operation. So, what can we do to change this nonfunctioning working area to a functional, low cost, and low stress handling facility? One option that K-State Research and Extension has been exploring is the bud box.

Stockmanship instructor, Bud Williams, designed the bud box. The bud box is a rectangular pen in which the alleyway leading to the chute is placed at a right angle at the point of entry into the box. It is hard to find a simpler, easy to use, design than this. It is also an extremely cost effective option. Cattle are brought into the box and the position of the handler along the opposite side of the box stimulates the cattle to move past the handler and into the alleyway. The gate that is closed behind the cattle as they are moved past the alley forms the box. The handler then takes the position along the fence adjacent to the alley. From here, the handler applies pressure to the cattle by moving forward along the fence toward the closed end of the box, stimulating the cattle to move past the handler and into the alleyway.

The bud box is such a simple construction that is easy to put up in any location. Another positive with using the bud box system is the simplicity makes it adaptable to different alleyway configurations. If you currently have a system that isn’t working, then this could be a viable option. The bud box typically has open sides, which reduces material cost and the overall footprint of the facility. The box is typically 12 feet wide by 20 feet long and closed on one end with a gate at the other. On a cow-calf operation, the bud box would be used to fill a chute alley with four or five mature cows at a time. Overcrowding the bud box can create an environment that will decrease the effectiveness of the design.

A well-designed cattle handling facility is a long-term investment. You are not only investing in your cattle, but you are investing in relationships concerning labor assistance and keeping everyone together for family Christmas. I read a t-shirt one time that said “Sorry for what I said while we were working cattle”. Avoid having to get this t-shirt for a Christmas present and look into designing a bud box that fits your needs. K-State Research and Extension has a publication with various facility design examples and more details on how to properly use a bud box. For additional information, please contact Katelyn Brockus, River Valley Extension Livestock Agent, at 785-325-2121 or [email protected].