| Portable
Hydraulic Working Facility
To maximize safety and efficiency for both
the animals and the operators, SMCC will uses
a fully mobile hydraulic squeeze chute that
is mounted in a 24' gooseneck trailer. This
is no ordinary trailer; behind the squeeze
chute, there is anadjustable alley. We can
carry portable panels and 2 ATV's in the rear
while in transport mode. The truck towing
the trailer provides the hydraulic power and
110 or 12 volt plug ins. We also have water
and an on-board refrigerator on the truck
and the trailer.
With
the portable working facility, we can go anywhere.
Whether that be in a field to work cattle
or back up in your barn lot, we can safely
and effectively work any size or weight of
animals. Having a system that is this flexible
and portable is very unique to our operation,
but we feel that it allows SMCC to serve our
clients and also to cover a key part of high
quality cattle management .
The
chute has built-in digital scales that are
overhead; so every time an animal steps into
the chute, it is weighed. That way medicine
is dispensed much more accurately and animal
growth can be recorded. The headgate portion
of the chute has a neck bender and a dehorning
bar; so the risk of human injury in much lower
and animal restraint is much higher, than
any other working facilities.
The
digital scales can be linked to a laptop computer
that will record the weight of each animal
along with what treatments that were given.
Also, we will be able to record if a cow is
open or pregnant, the animals temperature,
and much more.
Electronic
identification tags (EID) will be used along
with normal ID tags to record and transfer
information. The EID tags will stay with the
animal for its life and are about the size
of a half dollar. The tag will be placed in
the upper inside of the ear near the base
of the head.
With
a EID system in place on producers' operations,
either cow/calf or dairy heifer, they will
gain a tremendous amount of information about
their herd and have the data to back it up.
All of the calves that are weaned and then
bunk broke will keep their EID tags, and the
feedlot and even packer will continue to add
information to the animals history. Then SMCC
will receive the data to add to our system.
With this added quantified data we can make
much more informed management decisions than
just by the animal's appearance.
One
major advantage to EID and SMCC is that we
provide independent source verification of
your cattle and we represent your best interest
for as long as you own the animal. This can
be very important with the upcoming federal
COOL regulations and FDA animal tracking implementation.
This is something that no sale barn would
likely offer, and it is much easier for the
producer to have it done for them.
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