"It really works slick for treating cattle in the field. We've also used it to move everything from calves up to 2,000-lb. bulls," says Duane Reum about his home-built loader mounted cow catcher.

The Wanham, Alta., farmer's cow catcher consists simply of a 6 by 12-ft. cage with a commercial head gate mounted on front. The catcher's main frame is built of 2-in. sq. tubing, with smaller square tubing used on the side rails.

A shop-built heavy-duty grapple fork mounted on the bucket clamps over the top rail of the cow catcher, as two 1-ft. lengths of tubing slip into the bottom of the bucket.

Reum simply sets the cow catcher down over an animal he wants to catch. He can walk an animal to a cattle trailer by carrying the catcher about 18 in. off the ground as he drives the tractor ahead.

"The cow catcher works well because our cattle are used to having a tractor around for feeding. It doesn't spook them," notes Reum.