The present invention provides a
head restraint that can be used in conjunction with conventional cattle chutes that are equipped with head gates. Head restraints of this invention can be integrated into new chutes at the time they are manufactured or can be affixed to existing chutes. The
head restraint apparatus of this invention provides the advantages of being humane by causing little or no discomfort to the cattle being restrained. Cattle being treated also tends to remain calm while being restrained utilizing the device of this invention as compared to conventional restraint procedures, such as the employment of a bull lead. It offers much easier and faster means for providing care to positions on the head of the animal. Its implementation can accordingly lead to reduction in human labor requirements associated with treating a
herd of cattle and generally leads to savings in medication by virtue of being able to more accurately apply eye drops, ointments, or powdered medications to the eyes of a cow having a very stabilized head as compared to loss of medication when dealing with a struggling animal that is jerking its head around during the procedure. The
head restraint of this invention can also be beneficially utilized in administering shots of medication into the necks of cattle. Shots in the neck can be given much more easily, quickly, and accurately to an animal that is being restrained with the head restraint of this invention to prevent the animal's neck from moving or jerking at the time that the shot is being administered. This greatly reduces the risk of injury to the animal and the person administering the shot and also reduces the possibility of bending or breaking the
hypodermic needle The present invention more specifically discloses a head restraint for utilization in conjunction with a cattle chute, said head restraint being comprised of a lower neck restraint, an upper neck restraint which is mounted to the lower neck restraint, a
nose restraint which is mounted to the lower neck restraint, and a means for affixing the head restraint to the cattle chute, wherein the upper neck restraint is adapted to swivel into a position forming an
inverted U-shape over the top of the lower neck restraint, and wherein the
nose restraint is adapted to swivel by horizontal motion into a position forming a closed U-shape with the lower neck restraint.