Livestock

LE 30/12/2022

CATTLE

The cattle family ranges from calf to bull, from bullock to cow and heifer. What are the differences? A calf is a male or female bovine animal of no more than 8 months old. Up to 12 months it is referred to as a “young cattle”, and between 12 and 24 months as a “yearling”. A bull is an uncastrated adult male over 24 months old. Once castrated, he becomes a bullock or a steer. A heifer is an adult female who has not yet calved; once she has had her first calf, she becomes a cow. France has the largest cattle herd in Europe, with 44 breeds represented, including Charolais, Blonde d’Aquitaine, Maine-Anjou, Normande, Limousin, Gascon, Aubrac, and many others. They constitute a proud heritage, central to everything we do.

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MEAT

The term ‘meat’ applies to male cattle intended for fattening, generally in special fattening workshops, different from the dairy sector.

The suckler cow sector, with a wide variety of fine French breeds, produces calves that are born in winter in the barn and come out to pasture in the spring.

The different types of headlock, AXIAL, RC and FESTON self-locking, all play an important role on the farm, making it possible to channel the animals and reduce disturbances at the trough caused by dominant animals.

Furthermore, the headlock facilitates safe handling when used to restrain an animal during veterinary procedures. Finally, it also helps livestock handlers to sort their animals.

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CALVES

In the dairy sector, after 20 days spent in individual pens, calves are placed in group pens, generally composed of field gates and calf SAFETY headlocks with bucket holders. The females will be kept to replenish the dairy farm, while the males will leave for the meat sector within around 20 days.

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MILK

Dairy production for industrial purposes requires mass production where stabling generally involves cubicles and mattresses.

This type of livestock farming relies on optimised organisation of feed distribution, effluent management, and robotic milking, or even, in the largest facilities, a rotary milking system.

The SAFETY IV headlock helps to channel animals and reduce disturbances between dominant animals. Furthermore, the headlock facilitates safe handling when used to restrain an animal during veterinary procedures. Finally, just after milking, it helps to maintain the animal in position while the teats close, preventing infection issues.

In cheese production areas, particularly AOCs, we find the same type of farms with herds that are smaller but managed according to stricter specifications. Hay is often the main food, rather than silage, and the animals are sent out to meadow as soon as the weather allows. Cheese production and maturing are carried out in the farm’s laboratory, making it possible to develop a product with higher added value.

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SHEEP

Sheep are farmed for meat and milk. Farming is organised around two sectors. 

So-called "suckler" flocks exclusively produce lamb meat. These account for around 90% of sheep farms in France. Sheep are reared either in large flocks of several hundred sheep, or alongside other animals. This kind of sheep farming is very often justified by the need to make use of plots of land and fodder resources which are of inferior quality or only suitable as grasslands. The most common meat sheep breeds are Île-de-France, Charollais, Suffolk and Hampshire.

Among dairy breeds, the most common are Lacaune, Basco-Bearnaise and Manech.

Our sheep headlocks with a double frame for yoke adjustment are suitable for the various hornless sheep breeds. The sheep headlock makes it possible to work safely in self-service mode and to switch very easily to a locking position, in order to accustom young ewes to the headlock. Combined with sheep barriers and hurdles, they can be used to create lambing pens.

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GOATS

French goat farms mainly produce milk and cheese, but kids are also farmed for meat, much of which is exported. The breeds generally encountered are Saanen, Alpine and Poitevine. On slightly more than half of French farms, the milk is collected by cooperatives which then use it to produce cheese. On the remaining 47%, the milk is made into cheese on the farm.

The goat headlock makes it possible to work in self-service mode and to switch very easily to a locking position. Combined with our small livestock barriers and goat hurdles, this enables easy group separation.

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HORSES

From hardy draft horses to thoroughbreds found in sport and equestrian centres, France has many different breeds of horse. Our stalls and hay racks are designed to simplify stable housing and maintenance. Mechanised stall cleaning is made easier thanks to resin fronts and sliding partitions.

The resin is a composite material made from recycled plastic chips that is resistant to impacts and wear over time. It is completely rot-proof and limits the gnawing by horses. 

Our various models of solid, barred, fixed, or sliding walls allow for the creation of easy-to-use and durable stalls.

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