Panels are one of the most versatile building blocks of handling and care equipment for cattle and horses. With them you can build anything from a simple mobile enclosed area to a complete system for catching and treating animals, without having to buy entirely new equipment for every purpose.
Where panels are used
The main advantage of panels is their flexibility. They are used for mobile handling equipment for cattle, mobile equipment for cattle and horses, and for riding circles and riding arenas for horses. Seven basic models are available in four heights, from 1.10 m to 1.85 m, meaning a suitable combination can be found for almost any combination of animals and purpose.
All PATURA panels are fully hot-dip galvanised after welding, making them weather-resistant even in constant outdoor use. Rounded end tubes prevent an animal's leg from getting caught between the rails if it tries to jump the panel, while non-slip feet give the panels stability on the ground and prevent slipping. Chain coupling allows quick closing even on uneven terrain, and setups built from individual panels can be adjusted or extended at any time to fit new circumstances.
Choosing a panel by animal type and size
Panel models differ in their suitability for different animal types and sizes:
- Mini panels suit calves as well as sheep and goats.
- Panel 3 is designed mainly for large horses.
- Panel 5 is versatile, suiting lighter cattle breeds, calves, and small horses and foals.
- Panel Compact covers the widest range of uses, from medium and heavy cattle breeds to small horses, and is also suitable for a mobile box with a panelled roof.
- Panel-6 is built for extra lateral stability thanks to a special tube arrangement, and is versatile for cattle and calves.
- Panel-8 has one tube more, both upward and downward, than Panel-6, making it harder to jump and harder to lift, so it particularly suits driving passages.
- The safety panel for horses is designed exclusively for horses, including for building single or multiple boxes.
The key when choosing is therefore not to pick a panel by height alone, but also by its construction, since some models are deliberately built to be harder to jump or lift, which matters especially where animals wait in a tighter space, such as a driving passage.
How a catching and handling system is put together
Mobile handling equipment is indispensable for catching cattle quickly, easily and safely, since care such as animal identification, parasite treatment, taking samples, insemination or hoof care is considerably harder and riskier for both the animal and the handler without suitable equipment.
A typical catching and handling system consists of:
- A waiting area with panels, allowing for roughly 2.5 m² per animal.
- An access lane, 70 or 85 cm wide, which guides the animal toward the entry circle.
- An entry circle or entry funnel, which redirects the animal into the driving passage.
- A forced-catching circular system, set up as a half-circle or quarter-circle depending on herd size, where people and animals are separated by lifting gates that can be locked in several positions with a double latch.
- A treatment box or neck-catching frame, where the actual care or treatment takes place.
A sliding-gate access frame on the access lane keeps things calm, since it stops the animal moving backward on the way in, while panels with a sheet-metal lining further quieten animal traffic by reducing noise.
Protection from the weather
Where panels form mobile boxes or shelters, a canvas roof can be added, creating a mobile, covered space that protects against rain, wind, snow and sun. Such structures are supported by square posts with a wide base, and assembly with just two people is typically possible within one to two hours. Windbreak nets and weather tarpaulins are also available for extra side protection, fastened to the tent frame and to the lowest support of the panel.
Need advice?
PATURA is a German manufacturer of panels and catching and handling equipment for cattle and horses, and Kancler Sistem Pro is its Slovenian partner for sales and installation.
To have a mobile pen put together to measure, let us know the space you have and the number of animals.