How Can One Person Safely Work Cattle Through a Crush?

Working cattle on your own is normal on many Australian cattle stations. The crew is small. The mob is big. The job still has to get done.

Doing it alone can be safe. But it depends on your crush and how your yard is set up. Get it wrong, and you end up reaching, climbing, and leaning in where you shouldn’t.

Here’s what helps one person work cattle through a crush more safely and where RPM gear fits in.

Start with Where You Stand

A safe day starts with where you stand. You want to run the crush without stepping into the cattle’s space. Most jobs end up at the crush, from preg testing and drenching to tagging and vet work. So it pays to get this part right.

Ask yourself:

• Can I reach the headbail, squeeze and gates from one spot?

• Do I have to climb a rail to reach anything?

• Is there a clear way out if a beast gets worked up?
  

RPM builds every crush for nearside or offside use, so it fits your yard layout. Front and rear operation is standard on the Innovator, Allrounder, and Ultimate crushes. That gives you more choice in where you work from.

Pick a Crush That Suits Your Cattle

Every RPM crush is made in Australia from galvanised high-tensile steel. The right model depends on how you work.

• Vetless Innovator. Entry-level, for a few head and vet checks.

• Innovator. Medium duty, for small to medium producers and family-run operations.

• Allrounder. Our most popular commercial crush, for producers of all sizes.

• Ultimate. Our heaviest duty crush, built for commercial production and feedlots.
  

Buy for your heaviest day, not your average one. See the full range on our cattle crushes.

Get Cattle to the Crush Without Pushing

Cattle that hesitate in the race make a long day for one person. Pushing from behind puts you in the wrong spot.

The Safe-T-Force is a fully sheeted system that helps cattle flow into the race and the crush. It has an automatic brake locking gate. You push the cattle round, and the gate locks behind them.

• Comes in 2 or 3 sections

• Nearside or offside operation

• Optional walkway with a handrail and stairs at each end

• A special handle can be added so you can work it from out of harm’s way
  

Catch Cleanly with the Headbail

Every beast goes through the headbail. If it’s slow or noisy, you feel it on your head.

RPM’s Hydra Lock Headbail locks in any position, so it holds different sizes of cattle. It opens quietly too. There are no ratchet teeth to wrestle with, and it works with one touch.

That also means younger or smaller operators can run the crush safely. The Power Lock linkage adds 30% more locking power and takes less effort from you.

Keep Your Hands Free

When you’re alone, every extra step or reach adds risk. A few features on RPM crushes help:

• Split gates on both sides with slam handles for quick, safe access

• Foot-operated vet gate so your hands stay free

• Anti-backing bar to move the animal forward and keep it where you want it

• Self-locking rear door that just pushes shut

Reach the Head Without Putting Yourself at Risk

Eye care, ear tagging, and vet jobs all mean getting close to the head.

The Head Access Module sits right in front of your crush. It holds the head so you can work on it safely. It has slam shut handles and nearside and offside gate access. You can also pin drafting gates to it.

Let Air Do the Hard Work

If you want to cut the effort even more, look at the Ultimate Air Crush. It’s air powered, built for quiet running, and needs fewer staff to manage the workflow.

• Swing-away control panel

• Air headbail that closes and releases quickly and quietly

• Air sliding gate that cuts your walking distance and labour

• 3-way air drafter

• Can be run manually by disconnecting the air rams

Add Extras When You Need Them

You don’t have to take every option on day one. Depending on the model, extras include a baulk gate, spey and injection gates, a semen gate and a fully sheeted rear door. You can also choose a welded drop-in floor or a timber floor, and a Hydra Headlock or Mugger Headlock.

Many of these can be added later as your needs change. See the full list on our crush options.

Plan the Whole Yard Together

A good crush still needs a good yard feeding it. RPM’s in-house draughtsman will design your cattle yard.

Tell the team how many people work your yard and how often you’re on your own. Then choose your crush and extras at the same time, so everything fits and flows together.

Talk to the team.

RPM is owned by a third-generation cattle producer. Every product is 100% Australian-made and built for beef and cattle producers across Australia.

If you often work cattle on your own, call the team on (07) 5462 3433. They’ll help you match a crush and yard setup to your cattle, your yard and your day.