Handling System Prices
What a Complete Cattle Working System Costs
A packaged system with a manual chute runs $14,000 to $35,000 for most herds. Heavier sweep systems and portable corrals run $44,000 to $93,000.
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Cost by Herd Size
Totals built from current packaged-system and component prices. Budget is entry equipment at farm-store prices; mid-range is a packaged Priefert, W-W or Titan West system.
25 head
Small cow-calf herd
$11,000–$15,000
- Priefert S0191 chute
- Model 20 sweep and alley
- About ten panels
50 head
Most family herds
$15,000–$24,000
- Priefert Premier package
- or W-W Express portable
- Hydraulic: $49,000–$60,000
100 head
Mid-size operation
$21,000–$49,000
- Priefert Solid Sweep
- Bud Box option $18,686
- Hydraulic adds $10,000–$20,000
250 head
Large herd
$34,000–$93,000
- Solid Sweep with calf table $84,114
- Arrowquip portable and Heeler
- Plus hydraulic chute
Prices last checked September 23, 2026. Freight is extra unless noted.
What Goes Into a Working System
Each piece priced on its own, with where to buy it.
$2,150–$6,500
Tub or Sweep
Priefert Model 20 sweep $2,150, with 16 ft alley $4,650. W-W tubs $3,665 to $5,930. Tarter Value 90 Sweep Tub System $3,000.
$900–$6,500
Alley
Tarter 10 ft alley panel $900. W-W crowd alleys $4,030 to $6,045. W-W 16 ft double alley $5,610 to $6,475.
$160–$225
Panels, Each
Priefert 62 in. utility panel $160 to $170. Priefert 64 in. Premier panel $215 to $225. A 10 x 7 bow gate is $650.
$4,350–$7,600
Loading Chute
Hi-Hog $4,348 stationary or $5,429 portable. Priefert PLC12 $5,655. W-W $5,069 to $7,623.
Priefert Packaged Corral Systems
Sale price with regular price in parentheses. Head counts are Priefert’s ratings.
| System | 35 head | 100 head | 200 head | 250 head | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier (open sweep, S04, 24 ft alley) | 35 head$14,350 ($15,944) | 100 head$21,494 ($23,882) | 200 head$31,887 ($35,430) | 250 head$33,713 ($37,458) | Where to buyCheck price at Farm and Ranch Store → |
| Solid Sweep (S04, 30 ft adjustable alley) | 35 head$31,739 ($35,265) | 100 head$43,960 ($48,845) | 200 head$58,412 ($64,902) | 250 head$68,246 ($75,829) | Where to buyCheck price at Farm and Ranch Store → |
| Rough Stock | 35 head$30,730 | 100 head$44,335 | 200 head$60,287 | 250 head$71,320 | Where to buyCheck price at Farm and Ranch Store → |
A 250-head Premier system with a calf table is $38,615. A 250-head Solid Sweep with a calf table is $84,114.
Prices last checked September 23, 2026. Freight is extra unless noted.
System Cost by Herd Size, in Detail
| Herd size | Budget | Mid-range | Heavy duty or hydraulic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 head | Budget$11,000–$12,000 | Mid-range$14,000–$15,000 | Heavy duty or hydraulic$25,000–$28,000 |
| 50 head | Budget$15,000–$21,000 | Mid-range$20,000–$24,000 | Heavy duty or hydraulic$49,000–$60,000 |
| 100 head | Budget$21,000–$24,000 | Mid-range$44,000–$49,000 | Heavy duty or hydraulicadd $10,000–$20,000 for hydraulic |
| 250 head | Budget$34,000–$37,000 | Mid-range$68,000–$76,000 | Heavy duty or hydraulic$84,000–$93,000 plus hydraulic |
Budget at 25 head is a Priefert S0191 chute, Model 20 sweep and alley and about ten panels at Tractor Supply prices. Mid-range systems are Priefert Premier and Solid Sweep packages, W-W Express and Titan West portables. Heavy duty is Arrowquip portable and Heeler systems and Priefert Solid Sweep with a calf table.
Portable Handling System Prices
| System | What’s included | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titan West manual portable | What’s includedchute, alley, tub | Price$15,400–$23,250 | Where to buyCheck price at Ackerman’s → |
| Arrowquip Portable 75 | What’s includedchute and alley | Price$17,500 | Where to buyCheck price at Howard Stores → |
| W-W EZ Duz It 300 | What’s includedportable system | Price$18,025 | Where to buyCheck price at Farm and Ranch Store → |
| W-W Express portable corral | What’s includedStandard / Plus 3 / Plus 6 | Price$20,036–$24,200 | Where to buyCheck price at Farm and Ranch Store → |
| Arrowquip Portable 75 | What’s includedchute, alley and tub | Price$24,950 | Where to buyCheck price at Howard Stores → |
| Arrowquip Portable hydraulic 107 | What’s includedchute, alley and tub | Price$28,500 | Where to buyCheck price at Howard Stores → |
| Titan West hydraulic portable | What’s includedchute, alley, twin tub, gas motor | Price$31,615–$36,625 | Where to buyCheck price at Ackerman’s → |
| Arrowquip Portable 88 | What’s includedchute, 16 ft alley, tub | Price$38,400 | Where to buyCheck price at Howard Stores → |
| Arrowquip Heeler | What’s includedportable corral, up to 35 pairs | Price$49,400–$60,350 | Where to buyCheck price at Howard Stores → |
Prices last checked September 23, 2026. Freight is extra unless noted.
Where to Buy a Working System
Farm and Ranch Store sells the Priefert Premier, Solid Sweep and Bud Box packages priced above. Tractor Supply has the panels, sweeps and alleys for building a system piece by piece.
Farm and Ranch Store
Priefert Premier, Solid Sweep, Rough Stock and Bud Box packages, plus loading chutes.
Shop at Farm and Ranch Store →Tractor Supply
Priefert Model 20 sweep, utility and Premier panels, bow gates and the calf table.
Shop at Tractor Supply →Howard Stores
Arrowquip Portable 75 and 88 systems and the Heeler portable corral.
Shop at Howard Stores →Ackerman’s
W-W 210, 270 and 300 working systems, tubs and crowd alleys at cash prices.
Shop at Ackerman’s →Prices on this site come from these sellers’ public listings. Confirm the current price and freight with the seller before ordering.
More on Working System Costs
Bud Box vs tub cost
A Priefert Bud Box system rated for 100 head is $18,686 on sale. The 160-head version is $30,061. A W-W 210 working system with a tub and no chute is $8,720 cash, and the W-W 300 system is $18,255.
A Bud Box uses straight panels and relies on cattle flow, so it can be built from panels you already own. A tub costs more per piece but takes less room and works well with one or two people.
The chute
Upgrading from an entry manual chute to a hydraulic one adds $10,000 to $20,000 on its own. It is the easiest place to overspend on a small herd.
Pen space
Every holding pen adds panels and gates. Plan pens for the number of cattle you sort at once, not the whole herd.
Portability
Portable systems cost more than fixed systems of the same capacity, but they move to leased pasture and cut hauling.
Freight and setup
Systems ship on flatbeds and weigh several tons. Freight and concrete for a fixed alley add to the total.
Working System Cost Questions
How much does a cattle working facility cost for 50 head?
A packaged system with a manual chute runs about $15,000 to $24,000 for 50 head. A portable corral like the Arrowquip Heeler runs $49,000 to $60,000.
What is the cheapest way to build a working system?
Buy an entry manual chute, a sweep with a short alley and utility panels. At Tractor Supply prices that comes to about $11,000 to $12,000 for 25 head.
Is a Bud Box cheaper than a tub?
Built from panels you already own, yes. Priefert’s packaged Bud Box systems run $18,686 for 100 head, which is close to a Premier tub system of the same size.
Do corral packages include the squeeze chute?
Priefert’s Premier and Solid Sweep packages include an S04 chute and HG91 headgate. W-W’s 210, 270 and 300 working systems are priced without a chute.
How long does a steel handling system last?
Galvanized and powder-coated systems stored out of standing water commonly last decades. Hinges, latches and floors wear first.