Farm gates & cattle gates

Gate placement is layout, not hardware. A gate that swings the wrong way adds a step to every job and can trap the handler between the gate and the animal. These guides cover hanging, latching and swing direction for safe animal flow.

What to get right

• Swing with the flow
  Gates should open in the direction animals are travelling and never into the handler's escape route.
• Latch height and type
  A latch you can work one-handed, while holding something else, is the one that actually gets used.
• Hinges take the real load
  Gates sag at the hinge, not the frame. Hinge type and post strength decide how long a gate stays square.
• Width for the vehicle, not the animal
  The gate that cattle use is often the gate a loader has to pass through. Size for the larger case.

Start with Choose Cattle Gates for Safe Animal Flow and Cattle Gate Hinges and Latches. Equipment: cattle gates and panels. More in livestock fencing, gates and handling guides.