The squeeze chute is as important to a feedyard as a feed truck. After all, if a calf is sick, it won't eat, so you have to have a place to restrain the calf to doctor him. But when it comes to maintenance, a squeeze chute often is the lonely step-child, receiving far less regular maintenance than other valuable pieces of equipment.

Routine chute maintenance will greatly extend the life of the chute, according to several livestock equipment manufacturers.

First on their list -- keep it clean! "Manure and urine lead to rust and erosion, which significantly decreases the life of the chute," says Jim Bowman of Bowman Livestock Equipment. Kendall Filson with Filson Livestock Equipment recommends, "for chutes used on a daily basis, hose it down every evening." Tom Bowman of Bowman Enterprises/Dodge Livestock Equipment believes keeping a chute clean is the best thing a yard can do.

Doug Kruse, an engineer with Linn Enterprises, agrees, and suggests taking it one step further. "Pay close attention to the floor. Also wash under the floor of the chute, between the floor and the pad it's sitting on." Kruse also recommends prying off the dried, caked-on manure in hard-to-reach areas. "There are pockets and corners that normally don't get washed. Those are key places of erosion. Use a screwdriver or something to pry the dirt and manure away."

Routinely greasing all moving parts or grease cerks is also important. "You never find a grease gun in a processing barn," says Bill Cummings of Cummings Sales and Manufacturing. If a grease gun is handy, it doesn't take much time every Friday to grease the chute.

Regularly greasing the cerks cuts down on the wear and tear a chute receives.

Cam Daly, shop foreman at Pearson Livestock Equipment, recommends greasing at least once a week if the chute is used a bunch. "On our chutes with the automatic head gate, I suggest spraying WD-40 down the side to keep it moving freely. Kendall Filson recommends oil instead of grease. "Grease gets hard when it's cold and can get very dirty. I prefer using oil, especially in the winter."

For chutes that are only used occassionally, Filson says producers should grease every moving part before each use. "Any place that moves back and forth should be cleaned and lubricated before use."

Wayne Dietzman with WW Livestock Systems suggests changing the oil filter in hydraulic chutes every six months. "Add oil if needed," he says. As long as contaminates don't get in the oil, it should stay clean, but he recommends changing the oil every two years.

Covering outdoor chutes helps protect the chutes from the weather, but if that isn't possible, at least keeping the sun off hydraulic hoses will extend the life of the hoses. "Once a year, inspect all hoses for any weathering," says Mitchell Haynes of Cattleac Equipment.

Cummings says it is important to check the bypass pressure. That checks the actual pressure the calf feels in the chute, decreasing bruising in the yard.

Doug Kruse also recommends annually inspecting loose bolts. "A chute endures a lot of vibration. If you don't catch it in time, you can have a problem." Rubber stops should also be inspected to cut down on noise and wear-and-tear of the chute.

An annual check of the welds is also a good idea, says Filson. "Look for hairline cracks. It's easier to fix then instead of waiting for the weld to break.

Don't forget about the safety pin for chutes with side exits. "Make sure the pin is in place and in good condition," says Dietzman of WW. "Manure on the pin can lead to deterioration, and somebody might get a big surprise if pin breaks and the side exit swings open."

Jon Mollhagen, president of Moly Manufacturing, suggests a routine maintenance check by his technical support team for Moly chutes annually or biannually, depending on use. "It's a good idea for our team to look things over before the fall run," he says. "If you have a question, call us. We want to stay in contact with our clients."

"Management should take a part in routine maintenance," says Cummings. "Double check and make sure these things get done." ©