The safety of ranchers and their livestock takes center stage as a recent incident involving cattle equipment brings to light the pressing need for improved, safer cattle equipment. One concerned rancher’s experience has sparked discussions about ensuring the well-being of both ranchers and animals during handling, as a recent mishap left him fearing he had broken his arm.
Douglas Caldwell, a seasoned rancher, found himself dealing with a tricky situation while processing calves.
“We were moving calves through the corral for vaccinations, and that’s when it happened,” Caldwell recounted. During the processing of 106 head of cattle, a calf’s head became pinned in a cattle tub.
This wasn’t the first time Caldwell encountered such an issue with this cattle equipment, and it wasn’t the only time it happened that evening. A gap in the crowding tub is just big enough to allow calves to wedge their heads under the sweep gate. As the calves fight to push the gate, they bring their head up around the corner, and get stuck between the gate and tub wall, becoming increasingly frustrated as they continue to pull. The struggle to free themselves led to injury and increased stress, both for the calf and Caldwell.
He attempted to fix the situation with a makeshift solution — wedging a trolley jack to create space for the calf the pull its head out — which had unintended consequences. The stressed-out calf’s actions propelled the jack toward Caldwell, resulting in injury.
“I thought I broke my arm. It hurt a ton, but we were back at it not long after. We had to unchain the entire unit and pick it up to let the calf out the bottom,” Caldwell said, reflecting on the incident. “It was beyond disappointing. By the end, there was a lot of blood and three calves in total were traumatized and injured.”
Caldwell said he reached out to the company with his cattle equipment experience, hoping to speak with someone and help the business improve in the future. But the company hasn’t responded, a problem all too common in the ranching industry.
Safety concerns and incidents stretch beyond one rancher’s experience. Across the industry, situations like Caldwell’s underscore the importance of reevaluating cattle equipment and working to improve it for the better of both ranchers and livestock.
While manufacturers such as Arrowquip have taken proactive safety stances, other cattle equipment manufacturers in the industry still manufacture the same equipment they have for years — or even decades. Ranchers deserve cattle equipment that supports their work, not puts it in jeopardy.
Arrowquip’s innovative CEO, Mark Firth emphasizes the shared responsibility of prioritizing safety.
“Ranchers are the heart of this industry. Their well-being is intertwined with that of their livestock,” Firth stated, acknowledging that safety lapses extend beyond isolated incidents.
“This case is far from an isolated incident of on-ranch injuries — regrettably, it’s an all too frequent occurrence. Ranchers work with unpredictable and hazardous animals. Ensuring cattle’s well-being is paramount, but so is the rancher’s safety. We’re unapologetic about urging competitors to raise their standards,” asserted Firth, noting Arrowquip’s brand promise: Should a rancher sustain an injury while using their Arrowquip equipment, the company issues a full refund, and the rancher keeps the equipment.
It seems many businesses lose sight of their customers, but they are the lifeline. Nurturing this connection becomes even more pivotal as a company grows. It’s disheartening several competitors — Priefert, Tarter, Powder River, Pearson, Silencer, and others — fall short in this regard. While they talk about their greatness and exceptional customer service, but we know that’s false. Caldwell certainly knows.
With the industry changing and seasoned ranchers striving to cement their legacies, the demand for cutting-edge cattle equipment is growing. Ranchers’ equipment is their most important tool, and they can’t afford to compromise on safety, efficiency, or dependability.
The recent incident serves as a rallying cry, prompting manufacturers, ranchers, and industry leaders to unite and commit to manufacturing safer cattle equipment.
“Ranchers are too often left to navigate these challenges with minimal assistance, requiring the ability to operate autonomously or alongside their cherished families,” said Firth. “Ensuring their safety is a matter that haunts our collective conscience — the thought of unsafe equipment somewhere out there gnaws at us.”
“We are poised for the future. This is the Rise of the Rancher.”
Start your journey to safer cattle equipment at www.arrowquip.com.
This article was published on behalf of Arrowquip.
