Palp Cage

A palp cage is a short, enclosed section at the end of an alley where an animal stands while the vet or technician reaches through for pregnancy checking. The sides hold the animal squarely, the opening gives access from behind, and the whole thing keeps the work contained instead of happening in an open pen.

On a herd of any size, palpation is the bottleneck of the day. A cage that holds an animal still and gives a clear working position keeps the line moving and keeps the person doing the palpating out of the way of a swinging hip.

Palp cages are built into alleyways or added to an existing run, and they are usually ordered with the chute and alley so the working height and position line up.