What For-Most does

For-Most is a family-owned manufacturer of cattle handling equipment founded in 1961 by Harvard Dorhout in Hawarden, Iowa, where it continues to operate its headquarters and manufacturing facility. The company designs and builds headgates (automatic self-catching, manual, and hydraulic), squeeze chutes (manual Models 125/150/300/375/450 and hydraulic Model 750), crowding tubs and double alley systems, Pro Series portable tub and alley configurations, calf equipment including panels and calving pens, corral panels and bow gates, and a portable scale frame. Its underlying technology centers on proprietary innovations including the original parallel squeeze and walk-through design (Model 10, 1961), Complete Parallel Closing Action on hydraulic models, a dual-side squeeze system that tapers from 30 3/4 inches to 9 inches, and the first double alley system with side-by-side adjustable alleys. All equipment is powder coated for multi-generational durability, and the company also holds a US distributorship for Tru-Test electronic weighing systems (indicators, load bars, and platforms).

The company serves four primary vertical customer segments — cattle ranchers and cow-calf operations, feedlots, sale barns, and large animal veterinarians — across the United States. Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales via a dedicated nationwide dealer network established in 1964, with no public pricing disclosure and quote-based pricing per configuration. Marketing channels include the company website, downloadable product catalogs, YouTube and Facebook pages, email newsletter, and active participation in numerous agricultural trade shows throughout the Midwest and beyond (National Western Stock Show, Iowa Power & Farming Show, Farmfest, Farm Progress Show, NCBA, and many regional events). For-Most has remained privately held and family-owned throughout its history, with no external investment, parent company, or subsidiary structure indicated in available materials, and no public financial disclosures.

Name

For-Most

Legal name

For-Most

Website

https://for-most.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cattle Handling Equipment

NAICS

Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42382), Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423820)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Animal Handling & Housing Equipment (Stalls, Headlocks, Chutes, Gates) (AFAAAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Livestock & Dairy Equipment (IMAHACAG)

Keywords

• Cattle handling equipment
• Squeeze chutes
• Livestock headgates
• Crowding tubs
• Calving pens

Headquarters

HQ city

Hawarden

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Cattle Handling Equipment Sales: For-Most generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of cattle handling equipment including headgates, squeeze chutes, crowding tubs, alleys, portable scales, and calf equipment. Products are sold as one-time capital equipment purchases through a dealer network across the United States.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

For-Most manufactures and sells cattle handling equipment for livestock producers, including squeeze chutes (manual and hydraulic), headgates, crowding tubs, alleys, calving pens, portable scale frames, and corral panels and bow gates. All equipment is manufactured in Hawarden, Iowa with powder-coated finishes, and the company is the leading nationwide distributor of Tru-Test weighing systems (indicators, load bars, and platforms). Products are sold through a U.S. dealer network and at numerous agricultural trade shows.

Product overview

For-Most is a manufacturer of cattle handling equipment founded in 1961, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products organized into several categories: Headgates (automatic self-catching A-25/A-25T, manual Model 30/30T/30TW, and hydraulic Model 75); Squeeze Chutes (Model 125 sorting chute, Model 150/300/375/450 manual squeeze chutes, and Model 750 hydraulic squeeze chute); Pro-Series portable tub and alley systems; Calf Equipment including calf panels, round calving pens, and square calving pens; Crowding Tubs and Open Bar Corral Tubs; Manual Double Alley systems; Portable Scale Frame; Weigh Scales and Load Bars (distributed Tru-Test products including XR5000, ID5000, EZIWEIGH7i, S3 indicators and MP600/800, HD5T load bars); and various accessories and options. The company also distributes Tru-Test weighing systems nationwide as an integrated component of their product ecosystem. All products are manufactured in Hawarden, Iowa with powder coating for durability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Model A-25 & A-25T Automatic Self-Catching Headgate Automatic self-catching headgates that enable one-man cattle handling, with spring-assisted gates and parallel closing doors for safe animal restraint, intended for ranchers, feedlots, and veterinarians.
• Model 30 & 30TW Heavy Duty Manual Headgate Rugged manual headgates built to handle small calves to largest bulls, with optional neck bars and manual headsweep for head control.
• Model 75 Hydraulic Headgate Hydraulic headgate featuring complete parallel closing action with factory presets at 450 PSI, designed for feedlot use with quiet operation.
• Model 750 Hydraulic Squeeze Chute First hydraulic chute with complete parallel closing action on squeeze sides, headgate, and tailgate. Opens to 30 inches and closes to 10 inches with adjustable pressure relief preset to 450 PSI, intended for feedlot and high-volume operations.
• Model 125 Handling & Sorting Chute Economical handling and sorting chute with both sides swinging for complete animal access and three-way sorting capability.
• Model 150 & 150W Squeeze Chute Field-proven squeeze chute with unique body squeeze bringing animals to operator side, featuring fold-down branding doors and removable foot panels.
• Model 300 & 300W Squeeze Chute Heavier chute with welded uni-body construction and standard arched palpation cage, designed for large producers and veterinarians.
• Model 375 & 375W Squeeze Chute Economical squeeze chute featuring drop-down branding doors and adjustable sides, with all the stoutness and access features expected from For-Most.
• Model 450 & 450W Squeeze Chute Top-of-the-line manual squeeze chute with dual-side squeeze system that keeps animals centered, six large branding doors, adjustable chute sides, and optional palpation cage for maximum animal access.
• Small Animal Tip Chute Self-catching tip chute designed for calves, sheep, and goats up to 450 pounds, with adjustable bottom width and friction-type squeeze.
• Pro Series Portable Tub and Alley Portable tub-and-alley system built as one solid unit with minimal set-up time, featuring 8-foot swing gate and 16-18 feet of adjustable alley with palp door.
• 450 Pro Series Pro Series configuration built around the 450 squeeze chute with Easy Lift system, inclined cat walk, overhead alley stop, and split tailgate.
• Round Calving Pen 90-degree round calving pen with rear access door, split nursing panel, and 4-foot floor for stabilizing the pen during calving.
• For-Most Calving Pen (10-foot Square) 10-foot square calving pen with split confinement panels allowing nursing while the cow is held securely, designed to increase calving rate success.
• Portable Scale Frame Portable scale/chute combination with heavy duty 6-inch channel frame protecting Tru-Test loadbars, featuring removable fender wheel assemblies and brake winch.
• Crowding Tubs Tub and alley systems with 10-foot radius, reversible swing gate, and double alley system for efficient cattle handling with less stress on animals and operators.
• Open Bar Corral Tub Corral tub built with sturdy features without sheet metal, featuring a 10-foot swing gate with full 180-degree design and positive latching system.
• Manual Double Alley 14 feet of adjustable double alley with 4-foot funnel section and 8-foot adjustable single alley, featuring adjustable overhead grill and removable bumper hitch tongue.
• Corral Panels & Bow Gates 5.5-foot tall corral panels with 7-rail construction using 1-1/4-inch square tubing and 1-inch round tubing, available in 8, 10, and 12-foot lengths.
• Tru-Test Weigh Indicators (XR5000, ID5000, EZIWEIGH7i, S3) Tru-Test weighing indicators with data storage, Bluetooth connectivity, internal rechargeable batteries, mounting brackets, IP67 environmental rating, and 2-year warranty, distributed nationwide by For-Most.
• Tru-Test Load Bars (MP600/800, HD5T) Tru-Test load bars including MP600 (4,400 lbs capacity), MP800 (6,600 lbs capacity), and HD5T heavy duty load bar (11,000 lbs capacity), distributed by For-Most.
• Tru-Test Platforms (AP600/800) Tru-Test platforms designed for alleyway and portable applications with low profile design and rubber mat for traction, distributed by For-Most.

Quantifiable outcome

• For-Most crowding tub and alley systems allow you to handle more livestock in less time, with less stress on the animals and the operator.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Tru-TestcoreTechnology or IntegrationFor-Most is the leading nationwide distributor of Tru-Test scales. The partnership provides fast, accurate weights on cattle with weighing solutions including indicators (XR5000, ID5000, EZIWEIGH7i, S3 System), load bars (MP600/800, HD5T), and platforms (AP600/800). All Tru-Test indicators feature internal rechargeable batteries, mounting brackets, IP67 environmental rating, and 2-year warranty.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Others

• Tru-Test Group: Tru-Test is the weighing technology partner whose products For-Most distributes nationwide as an integrated component of its cattle handling systems. It is not a direct competitor but a strategic supplier whose indicators, load bars, and platforms are core to For-Most's integrated offerings.

Direct peers

• Arrowquip: Arrowquip is a cattle handling equipment manufacturer specializing in squeeze chutes, alleys, and tubs with a strong focus on low-stress livestock handling design. It competes directly with For-Most's hydraulic and manual chute lines, though Arrowquip has more of a digital/e-commerce orientation.
• Pearson Livestock Equipment: Pearson is a Nebraska-based manufacturer of livestock handling equipment including chutes, tubs, and alleys. It competes directly with For-Most in the Midwest US rancher market with comparable product categories and dealer distribution.
• Priefert: Priefert is one of the largest US manufacturers of cattle handling equipment, offering squeeze chutes, headgates, tubs, alleys, and panels. It competes head-to-head with For-Most across nearly the entire product portfolio and serves the same rancher, feedlot, and sale-barn customer base.
• WW Livestock Systems: WW Livestock Systems (formerly WW Manufacturing) produces portable and stationary cattle working equipment, including chutes, alleys, and tubs. It directly competes with For-Most's Pro Series portable systems in the rancher and small feedlot segment.
• Moly Manufacturing: Moly Manufacturing produces livestock equipment including silage handling and cattle working systems. It is comparable to For-Most in serving the ranch and feedlot customer base with related equipment categories.
• Real Industries: Real Industries manufactures cattle squeeze chutes and handling equipment, serving cow-calf operations and feedlots. It directly competes with For-Most in the manual and hydraulic chute category with comparable dealer-based distribution.
• Hi-Hog: Hi-Hog manufactures cattle handling systems including squeeze chutes, crowding tubs, alleys, and corrals for ranches and feedlots. It is a direct product-line competitor to For-Most, though primarily serving Canadian and Western US markets.
• Tarter Gate: Tarter is a major US livestock equipment manufacturer producing squeeze chutes, headgates, corral panels, and related cattle handling products. It is a direct competitor to For-Most with overlapping product categories and distribution through farm/ranch retail channels.

Broad incumbents

• Behlen Country: Behlen Country is a broad agricultural and livestock equipment manufacturer offering tanks, gates, panels, and handling equipment. While not a specialist in cattle handling like For-Most, it competes in overlapping product categories through farm/ranch retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCAkLdjSFzDMrwnoLa0Bgp4A
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/For-Most-Livestock-Equipment/100070964820616

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about For-Most