On small cow-calf operations a squeeze chute may not be economically feasible and only a headgate may suffice. The tailgate of the squeeze chute should allow the cattle to see through it. If an animal can see the animal in front of him leaving the squeeze chute, he will enter the chute more easily. Headgates and squeeze chutes with a variety of features and types of construction are available. When purchasing this equipment, be aware of the location of levers, types of controls and ease of operation for your particular use.
Some producers consider a loading chute as an essential part of their cattle handling system.
Others with fewer cattle may use trailers without a loading ramp for hauling. The main requirement of a loading chute is to be able to load quickly before the first cattle entering can come back out. This means an adjacent holding pen must be large enough to hold the largest number of cattle to be loaded at any one time. More than one loading chute may be needed to accommodate vehicles ranging from gooseneck trailers to double-decker trucks, or a chute with a variable height adjustment can be used. The loading chute ramp can be either sloping or stepped.