An animal handling crate comprising: a ground engaging support ; a platform supported on the ground engaging support at a level spaced apart above the ground; first and second clamping jaws mounted on the ground engaging support , at least one of the first and second clamping jaws being movable towards the other one of the first and second clamping jaws from an open state for receiving an animal therebetween standing on the platform to a clamping state with the animal retained between and supported by the clamping jaws ; a releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the jaws in the clamping state, with an animal clamped therebetween; wherein the platform is movably coupled to the ground engaging support from a support state for supporting an animal standing thereon between the clamping jaws , to a release state permitting the animal to drop downwardly from the clamping jaws , the animal being operatively retained and supported by the clamping jaws while the clamping jaws are in the clamping state, the crate being configured such that the animal can be dropped downwardly by a release of the clamping jaws into the open state from the clamping state; characterized in that the platform is hingedly coupled to the ground engaging support about a hinge axis , and that the crate further comprises a guide means provided for guiding the at least one of the movable one of the first and second clamping jaws relative to the other one of the first and second clamping jaws between the open state and the clamping state, wherein the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart guide tracks located at respective opposite ends of the clamping jaws and extending parallel to each other, wherein each guide track comprises an elongated track member , each elongated track member being slidably engagable with at least one linear guide . a ground engaging support ; a platform supported on the ground engaging support at a level spaced apart above the ground; first and second clamping jaws mounted on the ground engaging support , at least one of the first and second clamping jaws being movable towards the other one of the first and second clamping jaws from an open state for receiving an animal therebetween standing on the platform to a clamping state with the animal retained between and supported by the clamping jaws ; a releasable retaining means for releasably retaining the jaws in the clamping state, with an animal clamped therebetween; wherein the platform is movably coupled to the ground engaging support from a support state for supporting an animal standing thereon between the clamping jaws , to a release state permitting the animal to drop downwardly from the clamping jaws , the animal being operatively retained and supported by the clamping jaws while the clamping jaws are in the clamping state, the crate being configured such that the animal can be dropped downwardly by a release of the clamping jaws into the open state from the clamping state; characterized in that the platform is hingedly coupled to the ground engaging support about a hinge axis , and that the crate further comprises a guide means provided for guiding the at least one of the movable one of the first and second clamping jaws relative to the other one of the first and second clamping jaws between the open state and the clamping state, wherein the guide means comprises a pair of spaced apart guide tracks located at respective opposite ends of the clamping jaws and extending parallel to each other, wherein each guide track comprises an elongated track member , each elongated track member being slidably engagable with at least one linear guide . <EOS>