Patent ID: 7213539

Claim:
An apparatus for urging a livestock animal through an enclosed alleyway, comprising: (a) an alleyway frame having an entrance for receiving livestock, an exit for discharging livestock and a longitudinal passageway extending between said entrance and said exit, (c) a reciprocating frame mounted to said alleyway frame for reciprocating generally longitudinal movement relative to the alleyway between a first rear position and a second forward position, (d) a plurality of longitudinally spaced paddles mounted to said reciprocating frame for forward pivoting movement between a first depending, generally vertical position and a second generally horizontal forward position, such that said paddles may pivot up and forward to allow forward movement of a livestock animal through said alleyway, said paddles also mounted to said reciprocating frame such that said paddles do not pivot in a backward direction from said first depending, generally vertical position thereby obstructing the backward movement of livestock in the alleyway, whereby livestock in said alleyway may be urged in a forward direction with reciprocating movement of said reciprocating frame as at least one of said plurality of paddles urge the livestock from behind in a forward direction.