Design of manual livestock restraint chute intended for stunning procedures: Tatonka Innovations, Tonkawa, Oklahoma

Abstract

As a recipient of the Oklahoma Meat Processing Grant intended to provide supply chain improvements during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tonkawa Processing Corp. has chosen to construct new facilities to better serve their customers. Tonkawa Processing Corp. is a small livestock processing company located in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. At their facilities, they process all sizes of animals, ranging from sheep and goats to bison and cattle. Finding a structure suitable for this range of species is not only difficult, but also expensive. A team of students from Dr. Weckler's BAE Senior Design course was tasked to design and build a multi-species knock box.

This design meets the need faced by a majority of smaller packing facilities when harvesting multiple species. Since many small processors serve a diverse group of local producers, they usually harvest a more diverse group of livestock. This design will allow Tonkawa Processing Corps. to have a system which will make restraining livestock efficient and safe for both employees and livestock alike.