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 be adjusted in either situation using the handler’s position, posture, distance, angle and speed.

The race connecting the Bud Box to the chute should be straight and approximately 30 to 40 feet in length. It can be either a single race or a double race that transitions into a single race. A single race utilizes the animals’ instinct to follow each other and eliminates obstacles that impede cattle flow through the race. In contrast, a double race gives cattle more space when exiting the Bud Box, increasing cattle confidence and improving flow into the race. However, cattle often hesitate when the double race transitions to a single race. To optimize flow through a double race, the opening from the Bud Box to the race should be approximately 69 inches wide and 14 feet long with a middle divider so there are two single races side by side. This race should then transition to a 36-inch-wide single race within 3 to 4 feet.

The race itself is very important in the design of the facility. The race should have an open base to allow animals to maintain a comfortable posture, improving cattle comfort and flow. It should also have open sides that can be adjusted manually or hydraulically, from 12 inches up to 36 inches in width, to accommodate all sizes of cattle (figure 3). Open sides allow cattle to see what is pressuring them and allow the handler to be in better position when asking for movement. For example, if an animal stops in the race, the handler can initiate movement by starting in front of the animal’s head, gaining its attention and then moving past its eye parallel to the race.

Choosing the proper flooring for the Bud Box and race is essential in reducing injury to the animals and increasing cattle confidence. Cattle tend to fall on slippery concrete floors, injuring themselves on upper joints or muscles or on the bottom of their toes. These toe injuries can lead to toe abrasions and abscesses that negatively impact the health and performance of the animal. Furthermore, cattle that slip lose confidence in their footing and become anxious, making them less confident in their handler. Adding sand 4-6 inches deep can improve footing but can clog drain pipes in facilities with a wash cleaning system. Pouring a cement curb around the outside perimeter of the Bud Box can keep sand from washing down the drainage system. Wood chips can also be used for improved footing but may be in limited supply in certain geographic regions. Rubber mats designed specifically for the Bud Box and race are recommended as a long-term solution for footing concerns (figure 4).

Not every operation has the luxury of starting from scratch or redesigning a new facility. In these cases, we can look at the existing facility, identify areas of concern and make suggestions to improve flow through the system.

One simple way to evaluate the system is to place a camera at the height of the eyes of the animals entering the facility and snap a photo. This will reveal what cattle are seeing as they flow through the system. Often, there is a dark or solid side that looks like a wall to cattle, as observed in figure 5.

This presents cattle with two obstacles. First, they cannot properly see the exit of the tub because the race makes a difficult curve and the exit looks like a wall. Instead of moving forward, cattle will stop and return where they came from. Second, the cattle are asked to narrow their footing because of the V shape (figure 6). This is a lot to ask of a frantic animal because altering its natural stance takes away the animal’s confidence.

This can all be fixed by opening the side of the tub and race on the inside corner and in some cases the outside corner as well. Removing the steel on either side of the race allows cattle to see what is pressuring them and places the handler in a better position to respond the needs of the animal.

When evaluating or designing any facility, always remember the following points:

1. Cattle crave guidance and direction. In order to accommodate this, they must see what is pressuring them.

2. Cattle that come to or perceive they have reached a dead end will always stop and return where they came from.

3. Cattle prefer to go straight. We do not need serpentine or snake-like race configurations. While cattle have a left leg lead, they will always correct and go straight toward the water tank in pasture situations where the terrain is flat.

4. Cattle need the guidance of a good leader. Always work with the lead animal and the others will follow. Cattle that follow with controlled motion have very little stress. Cattle that follow in a bunched-up group experience unwarranted stress created by handlers.