The Bud Box and Race By: Dr. Kip Lukasiewicz, Production Animal Consultation
In the last issue, we discussed the layout of staging pens. After cattle leave the staging pen, they move through the alley to the Bud Box or tub before entering the race (the alley leading to the chute, also known as the snake). The Bud Box is a rectangular box with open sides on three of the four sides. The entry gate coming into the Bud Box is the only solid side; this solid gate redirects the focus of the animal toward the open race leading to the chute. The open sides allow cattle to see what is pressuring them, which is a natural instinct of all prey animals. The Bud Box can vary in dimensions, but it should be the same width or wider than the alley leading to it. Cattle are more likely to enter the Bud Box voluntarily when it is at least as wide as the alley leading to it than when the Bud Box is narrower than the alley. A Bud Box measuring 14 feet wide and 20 feet long is recommended for processing while a Bud Box measuring 14 feet wide and 30 feet long is recommended for shipping cattle. The Bud Box is typically larger for shipping than for processing because the cattle are bigger and 16 to 17 head are loaded at once to fill the upper or lower deck of the trailer. The Bud Box is designed to efficiently move cattle using natural cattle instincts. Cattle are moved from the staging area into the Bud Box in groups of 7 or 8, or whatever fits in the race at once (figure 1, panel A). The handler follows the animals into the Bud Box and then closes the gate (panel B). The handler then positions himself or herself on the inside of the corner to the race, facing the opposite corner (panel C). The handler applies pressure toward the back corner of the box (panel D) and then turns toward the hinge of the gate (panel E), encouraging the front animals to turn into the race. Finally, the handler turns toward the race, supporting motion at the back of the group (panel F). From this position, the handler can also control the number of cattle entering the race. The solid gate on the Bud Box can either be placed at a 90-degree angle or a 120-degree angle to the alley (figure 2). Placing the gate at a 120-degree angle can help inexperienced handlers support movement by allowing cattle to easily make the turn around the handler and transition into the race. The gate is a form of sustained pressure, which allows the handler to apply less pressure to maintain movement and reduces the chance that cattle will stall in the corner of the Bud Box where the gate is hinged. Pressure can pacdvms.com 21
