Homemade Piglet Processing Cradle

To reduce the chance of repetitive-stress and similar injury while performing routine processing tasks (e.g., tail docking, castrating, injecting, tattooing), Helmut Janz from Maple Leaf Farms of Steinbach, Manitoba, created this Homemade Piglet Processing Cradle, which is designed to hold 3- to 5-pound piglets so the worker doesn’t have to. The cradle is a piece of 1/8-inch bent steel lined with foam material and having a Velcro strap to secure the piglet. The cradle is welded to a universal joint (similar to that used on a PTO shaft) so it can be rotated for easy access to both head and tail. Janz then mounted the device on a wheeled processing cart for portability.

Cost:

Impairment Category: Back, Strength/endurance