Polaris vs Arctic Cat

[newguy]

Been farming full time for 35 years. Farmed the first 30 without a quad. There is not another thing on the farm that gets as many differant uses as my quad.

[SADIE]

Well Writen KATO

AGAIN---The evolution of a quad on a ranch/farm.

Ranches with horses--know how and do use them very well. Along came the evolution of the quad and some ranches soon had quads working stock with horses.

Some places now don't have a horse and use a quad. One has to be carefull and know its limitations though.

I have seen and heard of some serious injuries on quads and some were fatal. Same thing could be said with horses.

I love my Honda. My herd respects the noise of the quad and knows I can turn very sharpely to "turn back" and animal or stop and back up and redirect the course. You cannot do that in a truck, tractor or on foot to the same effect.

This spring during calving in small paddocks a slow stroll through on a quad with the "slow motor noise" is quiet. If a calf needs to be brought in I could lay the calf over the seat of the quad and the "mom" would follow closely behind me.

Seen ranches gather cattle in the fall for preg-checking. A few occasions I was early or even on time and would watch the cattle come in. Horses, quads with horses, quads alone all work very well.

SNOWMOBILE--ENGINE AND SLED---THAT IS A GONG SHOW.---WILD CATTLE.

The quad stays on this operation. It is saddled up/fed and right by the house for me every morning.

[perfecho]

Two of the most useful tools on our yard is the skidsteer and quad.
I occasionaly feed grain with my quad, so anytime I want to handle the girls, I'll feed them a day or two before with the quad and then it is a "follow to the holding pen" scenario.
We have a fencing trailer set up with all the tools necessary on it that is just great behind the quad. Also, the best wire unroller going....as well have a weigh scale to pull behind that also doubles to move that one silly calf that insists on going back when you move a group.
Granted, I am not in the shape that GF is, however it has allowed me to keep cattle when I otherwise may have had to quit. (Works great for moving swath grazing wires.......just a beaaach to rope off of......)

[tman]

My former 2004 Polaris 400 had 9000 miles on it when I sold it. I once had the same issue of the wiring breaking, preventing 4WD and such. The weak point on that thing was the clutch. Even the Polaris mechanic finally admitted it to me after I'd been there enough times. The 500's are suppose to have a better clutch. But the way I drove it was more the cause than the design.

I now have a 2011 550 xp with power steering which is for sale. I only had enough business last year for one oil change. Should've waited til spring to upgrade. D'oh. I probably would've gone with Honda if I didn't need the clearance.

[forage]

Replaced the polaris with a 700 yamaha rhino side by side. The extra passenger seat and back storage area makes for a real treat. More stable and less tippy than the quad, has almost replaced the horse except in the foothills. Cattle have you beat on the side hills with alot of popular bush so rely on the good old four legged hayburner..

[grassfarmer]

Lots of things you can use a quad for but do they
generate enough extra net income to justify owning
an additional vehicle? Seems to me all the tasks
quoted could be accomplished on most places with
an existing tractor or truck.
I got a kick out of Sadie's post that his herd respects
the noise of the quad ... kind of like respecting a
good collie dog eh? I've yet to see a vehicle of any
kind that can turn sharper than a person on foot
who is paying attention to the task at hand. It would
seem they could be dangerous machines in the
hands of people lacking knowledge of livestock -
chasing a calving heifer 1/2 a mile in 5 minutes
maybe makes you feel like you've "won" and are in
control but it's really pretty dumb.

[perfecho]

They certainly can be dangerous GF....especially if someone get's a little hot headed....but I am slowly learning ;-0
I do find them much easier and quicker for stuff close to home, getting on and off for gates and fencing, etc. For our farm it is as important as any piece of equipment and I think it was a great way to start my girls off on operating and driving....although I am sure many thought I was an terrible father for allowing them so young, however I think it paid great dividends.

[kato]

Our cows used to do this when I still had my old horse, and they do it now with the quad......

When it's time to come back to the yard to get sorted, loaded, and hauled to pasture, those old girls know what's going on. They see it every spring. Trouble is they can't think past the fact that the calves are going to be separated. It doesn't matter that there's fresh new pasture and freedom at the other end. That's the cow brain at work. Therefore, any time near the end of May, if you go out to get them and bring them up, they will go ANYWHERE, but through the gate. If we're on foot, they know they can outrun us, and they will even go so far as to split into 125 groups of one to outwit the dogs. Dog respect goes out the window.

Except... when they see the quad. Or a horse. Then it's like they don't even try. They know they can't outrun anybody then. They just collect up, go through the gate, and march to the yard.

They're smart and dumb at the same time, but they know when they've lost their advantage, and when to give in and get with the program. It's pretty funny to watch.

[ASRG]

I have a 2006 Yamaha Big Bear 400 and I really don't like to use it much around the cows. I still like to get out and walk amongst them.....as soon as they hear that damned quad they are heading for the brush!
I have a little trailer that fits on a ball hitch that is real handy for checking and fixing fence in the spring. I custom built a 20 gallon sprayer with boomless nozzles (30 ft)that I use a bit.
If I remember correctly I paid $5800 for it new (on sale) and paid for it by spraying oil leases. It is a fairly basic machine, small enough to maneuver, not a big old brute like the Polaris or Artic Cat. Doesn't start well in cold weather (poor carberator design).
Handy for shooting gophers and trapping moles.

[smcgrath76]

We don't own or use a quad, although we
help neighbours who use them. We use
horses largely from a terrain
perspective and based on what we are
comfortable with. We wind up with a lot
of slopes, trees and creeks to cross and
that is definitely not quad friendly.
The largest problem I see with a quad is
that there is only one brain involved.
When that brain quits thinking they can
be dangerous. A truck or quad is no
substitute for a good horse.
We have splurged and bought a Suzuki
mini truck that will go pretty well
anywhere a quad will go, with the
exception that it has a box, can carry
1000 pounds, has heat and a radio and is
licensed for the road. And it gets
40 mpg highway and 60 mpg checking
cows. We use this for fencing, taking
mineral out, switching rotational
grazing, working table for AI, chute
side table for branding, etc. It is not
generally used for chasing cows.