Apparatus for Preventing an Animal from Kicking in a Cattle Chute

Abstract

Kick bar assemblies mounted to an opposite side walls of a squeeze chute structure each include an upright shaft that is rotatably mounted to the squeeze chute wall. Each kick bar assembly connects at one end to an actuator for rotating the shaft and at the other end to a kick bar which may be pivoted by the actuator between a first retracted position, a second normal extended position in which the kick bar is generally normal to the wall of the squeeze chute and a third forward position in which the kick bar is rotated forward of the normal position and defines an acute angle with the squeeze chute wall. The actuators controlling the motion of the kick bars are capable of being simultaneously remotely controlled to act in unison.

1 . A kick bar apparatus for use with a squeeze chute of the type for receiving and holding a livestock animal, the kick bar apparatus comprising:
 a pair of opposite, symmetric kick bar assemblies, each of which is mounted on one side wall of a cattle squeeze chute, each kick bar assembly including a kick bar that is rotatably mounted to one of the opposite side walls of the squeeze chute at a location that is behind the hind legs of the livestock animal, the kick bars operable for rotation between a first retracted position in which the kick bars are generally retracted and extending rewardly in relation to the hind legs of the livestock animal, a second normal extended position in which the kick bars are generally normal to the wall of the squeeze chute and directly adjacent to the hind legs of the livestock animal effective for preventing reward kicking of the hind legs of the livestock animal and a third forward position in which the kick bars are rotated forward of the normal position and defining acute angles with the respective adjacent squeeze chute walls effective for engaging the inside portions of the hind legs of the livestock animal in a manner suitable for maintaining the hind legs of the livestock animal in a generally spaced apart condition, the actuators controlling the motion of each kick bar capable of being capable of being simultaneously controlled to act in unison.   
     
     
         2 . The kick bar apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein;
 the kick bar assembly further includes an upright shaft that is rotatably mounted to the squeeze chute wall, the upright shaft connecting at one end to an actuator for rotating the shaft and connecting at the other end to the kick bar.   
     
     
         3 . The kick bar apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein;
 each of the kick bar assemblies further include an upright shaft that is rotatably mounted to the squeeze chute wall, the upright shaft connecting at one end to an actuator for rotating the shaft and connecting at the other end to the kick bar, and wherein,   the actuator of each kick bar assembly is a hydraulic cylinder and each hydraulic cylinder is operable to be activated separately or in unison.