Barriers are important to keep you safe and secure, no matter if it’s a dam that holds back water or a fence that keeps your cattle safely contained. But a barrier is only as good as the materials that hold it together.
All ranchers know the struggle of dealing with cracked, rusted, and bent or broken corral panels. With the ever-increasing cost of inputs and feed and getting less money in your pockets after selling cattle, having to repair and replace cattle equipment often is not sustainable. That’s why it’s important to find high-quality, durable cattle-handling equipment that is built to keep your legacy alive and last for generations.
Though it may seem like something small, corral panels play a big part in your day-to-day on the ranch. From holding cattle in a makeshift pen, to helping you move cattle from pen to pen. With their many uses, choosing the right panels and gates will play a big part in the functionality of your operation. But with so many types and brands on the market, it can be difficult to determine which might be best for you.
1. Design matters.
When looking at different options for your corral panels, it’s important to consider how they’re made. Though round panels are quite common, it’s been proven that round railings on panels may not be the best option. If you compare a 1-inch square tube to a 1-inch round tube, you will find the square tube is 33 percent stronger. This is thanks to the cross-sectional area that gives extra support to ensure your panels can withstand wear and tear from your cattle for years.
Squared or rectangular panel rails also have physical benefits for cattle. With rectangular rails, the contact point is larger, giving the cattle more room to run against it. The larger contact point also helps spread out the pressure when cattle come into contact with the rails. This helps to reduce carcass bruising — which all ranchers know can help save you hundreds of dollars annually at sale time.
Along with the physical benefits, rectangular rails have visual benefits for cattle. The thickness of the rails creates a larger visual barrier that cattle can easily see. This will make cattle less likely to challenge a corral panel or gate which will save you on repair and replacement costs — since every repair is more money from your pocket.
2. Think about your safety.
On your ranch, the safety of you, your family, and your herd should be number one. Often, cattle will try and stick their heads through gaps in the corral panels. Most times they can get out themselves, but there’s always the risk of getting stuck. This can cause panic for both you and the cattle, which leads to dangerous situations and damaged equipment. When looking for panels, make sure you’re paying attention to the spacing between rails and ask yourself, “Can my cattle fit their head through this?” The answer should be no.
Another thing to consider for safety purposes is the height of your corral panels. When working cattle, no matter how low-stress your handling area is, there will always be one that tries to escape. If you have shorter panels, cattle are more likely to attempt to jump over them to escape. Or even worse, try to escape and get stuck, injuring themselves or breaking their leg. This can be especially dangerous with young children helping around the ranch. You want to find panels that are sturdy and tall enough to deter cattle from jumping out.
3. Consider the company you choose to work with.
It’s no secret that investing in safer and sturdier equipment can be more expensive upfront. When looking for a company to work with, it’s important to look at one that can accommodate you. Some companies offer financing as an option to allow you more flexibility to get the equipment you need.
Over time, most metal corral panels will begin to deteriorate if constantly exposed to the elements and wet conditions. When your panels are beyond their useful life and you’re looking for new panels, ensure you’re working with a company that will be there for you no matter the time of day. Though you want to choose cattle equipment that is strong enough to withstand your livestock, you also want to make sure it comes with a reasonable warranty just in case something happens. After all, anything can happen on the ranch.
Ready to start your search for new corral panels? Visit arrowquip.com or contact their team at 1-866-383-7827 for more details.
This article was published on behalf of Arrowquip.
