Automation reduces labour requirements in feedlot cattle induction process

A new automated cattle crush designed for the induction of cattle into feedlots is proving to reduce labour costs and streamline operations. Developed with support from Meat & Livestock Australia, Te Pari, a leading manufacturer of livestock handling equipment, has introduced a fully automated cattle handling system aimed at improving efficiency and reducing human labour in feedlot operations.

The innovative Auto Feedlot Crush works by automatically guiding each animal into the crush after the previous animal has exited. Once the animal enters, the gates close behind it, and the animal is secured in a head bail, allowing for the administration of necessary treatments. The system also includes automatic activation of the side squeeze, as well as a bar positioned behind the animal to prevent backward movement.

Additionally, the system automatically records the animal’s weight and scans its Electronic Identification (EID) tag. With just one button press, the animal is released, and the next animal is ushered into the crush.

As labour shortages have driven the need for more efficient cattle handling, technological advancements in automated systems have become a crucial solution. Many feedlot operators and corporate lotfeeders are increasingly adopting automated cattle handling systems to manage large numbers of cattle and address safety concerns.

Te Pari's new Auto Feedlot Crush was trialled at Teys Charlton feedlot, and the results were shared at the recent Beef Ex conference in Brisbane.

According to Samantha Gladman, livestock supervisor at Teys Charlton, the automated crush has the potential to significantly cut labour needs and reduce the skill level required for handling the induction process. 

“Because the skill of catching the animal isn’t required, it opens up the potential to use less skilled labour.” Ms Gladman said.

“A supervisor or skilled person could set everything up and less skilled people could do the rest. Even with a less experienced team, I think it could remove at least one labour unit from our induction process which generally has four people.”

In addition to reducing labour, the automated system also provides benefits in terms of animal and worker well-being. Ms. Gladman noted that with less human contact, the cattle remained much calmer throughout the process. Furthermore, the automation improves the accuracy of data entry during induction. Operators can focus on inputting data while the machine automatically processes the next animal, eliminating the need to stop and manually manage each entry.

Overall, the Auto Feedlot Crush represents a major leap forward in automated cattle handling, offering both economic and welfare advantages for the industry.