Best Cattle Prod – Buyer’s Guide

Cattle prods have been used by farmers and livestock handlers for decades to move cattle and other livestock in the desired direction. These electric devices are designed to provide a small electrical shock to the animal, which encourages them to move forward. However, with so many cattle prod options available on the market, it can be challenging to find the right one for your needs.

That’s why in this blog post, we’ll be discussing the best cattle prod options available, including their features, benefits, and drawbacks. We’ll also be addressing common questions regarding the use of cattle prods and how to choose the right one for your livestock handling needs. If you’re looking to invest in a new cattle prod or simply curious about how they work, this post is for you.

1. Miller HOT-SHOT DX36 – Best Cattle Prod

The Miller Manufacturing Company boasts over 70 years of experience in livestock equipment and has become a dominant force in the market. While there are other respectable cattle prods available, many of them are actually owned by Miller Mfg Co. Nevertheless, the Miller Duraprod DX36 stands out as the best all-around performing product in the market and is our Editor’s Choice.

The Duraprod DX36 boasts top-tier components, with the rubber grip handle providing ideal insulation to prevent short circuit shocks, and the built-in safety switch ensuring accidental shocks won’t occur. The 36″ fiberglass shaft provides ample length and stiffness to keep you safe and to deter ornery livestock from pushing through. It’s worth noting that the cattle prod market tends to feature interchangeable, separate pieces, and it’s not uncommon to find a Miller component connected to a competitor’s product. Nonetheless, the Duraprod DX36’s handle stands out as the best in the market.

How to Use a Hot Shot

2. Magrath Livestock Prod – Best Budget Cattle Prod

Springer Magrath, despite not being the oldest company on our list, has been dedicated exclusively to providing animal care products with a strong emphasis on the commercial and agricultural markets for over five decades. This focus has propelled the company’s ascent in the industry, although it is one among several companies that were acquired by the reputable Miller Mfg Co. Nevertheless, Miller boasts an exceptional reputation and an extensive history, and Magrath products have maintained their quality without any decline. In fact, it is possible that Magrath products have improved while maintaining cost-efficiency. Consequently, we consider this cattle prod as our top choice for budget-conscious buyers, although it may not be ideal for novice ranchers.

Exercise Caution

While it may appear unconventional, the Magrath cattle prod is likely one of the superior options for experienced users. This is primarily due to its shorter and flexible shaft design. Consequently, users of this cattle prod will need to approach animals at a closer proximity to effectively utilize it—a factor that should not pose a challenge for seasoned ranchers.

Proximity Matters

If you are comfortable being in close proximity to agitated animals, the Magrath offers the highest shock intensity we observed, measuring at 5500 kV. Additionally, although this specific model does not have a rechargeable feature, the included handle can be equipped with a rechargeable add-on accessory. However, it is worth noting that this may slightly affect the overall cost-effectiveness. Nevertheless, the handle itself is insulated and incorporates a rubber trigger to minimize the risk of accidental shocks.

3. Hot Shot HSR48 HS2000 – Strongest Cattle Prod

Our final product comes from yet again another brand that has recently been purchased by the Miller Mfg Co, and yet again the brand may actually be better off for it. Granted, Hot Shot was already known for being one of the top-tier brands used by professional ranchers anyway. That said, this particular model is the cream of the crop and comes with a fair number of extra features that you do not see on other cattle prods. In fact, one of its best features is what pushed it onto our short list in the first place as the best rechargeable cattle prod. Of course, you get what you pay for, and the Hot Shot HS2000 is by far the most expensive product that we reviewed.

Fairly Impressive

The Hot Shot HS2000, as its name might imply, is noted for providing an incredibly powerful jolt to animals.

That said, a fair bit of this has to do with the shaft used which comes in at a whopping 48” while also being made of stiff fiberglass. While that is great for providing some safe distance between you and the animal, the Hot Shot HS2000 also makes sure that you are protected from the cattle prod itself as well.

Self Defense

Specifically, the Hot Shot HS2000 has a safety clip that sits over the trigger to prevent any accidental shocks. On top of that, both the motor and the handle are permanently sealed to prevent any mess or debris from getting inside. Of course, the included rechargeable battery pack ensures that you do not have to keep paying for new batteries –  though it does take about 9 hours to recharge. 

Buyer’s Guide

Material

Considering that the overwhelming majority of cattle prod products and components have been monopolized by a single manufacturer, the differences between the models are generally less than for other types of products. That said, you can still figure out which cattle prod will provide the better experience for your needs. One of the best ways of figuring out which is the better cattle prod for you is by identifying the materials used. While the materials will rarely limit a cattle prod in any meaningful way, it may provide some insight into how it is best used.

Fiberglass

Despite its name, fiberglass is actually far more similar to plastic than it is to glass, though that may be because it contains both materials. Basically, fiberglass uses an industrial-grade plastic base that will have glass fibers woven through it in some way – and it can be woven in a number of different arrangements. This composition allows fiberglass to remain stiff while still providing a modicum of flexibility so that it will not easily snap if it touches the animal wrong. That said, fiberglass is not really that durable of a material, especially when used in colder weather – an atmosphere that ranchers are liable to experience before too long.

Steel

At first blush, this might seem like the best material that can be used in a cattle prod, but it is actually used in an unexpected way. Instead of used for the leads because of its conductivity or as part of the frame considering it is the strongest material commonly used in cattle prods, steel is actually used to help reinforce the shaft of flexible cattle prods. Though not the same manufacturing process, steel is used in a similar way as glass is when woven into plastic to form fiberglass. While it may seem a bit surprising, steel is actually more flexible than glass due to its molecular structure which makes it a great material to be threaded for additional durability and flexibility.

Rubber

Yet again, rubber makes a second material that makes plenty of sense to be used with a cattle prod, but it is used in a way that you might not expect. The primary use of rubber with cattle prods is actually to serve as an insulator to protect the user from accidentally getting shocked. That said, rubber is also often used in cattle prod shafts where it is blended with steel threads to provide excellent flexibility while still being durable enough to stick onto your livestock. One thing to keep in mind about rubber is that it is technically an organic material, despite what it may feel like. This means that if you do not protect the rubber and maintain it, especially after it gets wet, the rubber is liable to start rotting.

ABS

This is another kind of plastic used for cattle prods, but this is actually the material that most cattle prods use for the housing to their handle. This actually makes this one of the most important materials used in the construction of the cattle prod’s handle. Keep in mind, ABS is a significantly better plastic than what you generally think when you hear the word “plastic.” In fact, ABS plastic is the same material used in Lego building blocks and is also�used by NASA. This type of plastic is incredibly durable and it does not seem to matter what else you throw at it. ABS plastic is waterproof and mostly unreactive to various chemicals and is not affected by hot or cold temperatures.

Copper

Copper is easily the least used material in a cattle prod, but it is pretty much included in every brand. The singular reason and purpose that copper is included in a cattle prod has to with the fact that it is one of the most conductive metals in the world. In fact, the conductivity of copper extends well beyond the simple wiring that transfers the charge and is used for the prod’s contact. Keep in mind, less reputable cattle prods will occasionally use a copper alloyed with another metal or even just a copper-plated contact. This can lead to the contact point wearing out quicker from the electrical charge or not providing a solid contact, nullifying the prod’s intended effect.

Rod

The rod is generally seen as the most important part of the cattle prod primarily because it is what allows you to safely motivate your livestock when it is being stubborn. Remember, the contact may be what delivers the shock, but the rod enables you to do so without having to literally stand right next to the animal. As any experienced rancher will tell you, an animal not moving is already irritated let alone adding an electric shock into the mix. That said, there is a fairly sharp divide between the those who prefer a stiff rod and those who prefer a flexible one. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so which one you use will likely depend on how ornery your animals are.

Stiff vs Flexible

This consideration really comes down to how well you trust yourself and your livestock – as well as a bit of bargain hunting to along with it. Basically, a flexible shaft will present a mental impediment to the animal, much like how an elephant trained with a stake from birth will assume its strength holds even once the creature is full grown. If you time the shock properly, you can convince an animal that the shock occurs once a certain pressure is reached. This will often convince an animal to move, or stop if desired, just on sight. Flexible shafts, on the other hand, do not really present this nuanced training option, but it is significantly less likely to break. On top of that, flexible shafts are also less expensive due to them generally being made of rubber as opposed to the fiberglass that stiffer shafts use.

Length

Much like the stiffness of the shaft,  the best length of the staff will similarly be dependent on how comfortable you are trying to motivate an agitated animal.  If you are fairly confident of your ability to control your livestock, you do not need to worry springing for the expense of an extra-long shaft and can settle for a shaft that is 2’ in length or less. That said, it is important to understand the physical limitations of the materials involved in regards to how long a shaft can support its own weight.

While shafts of lengths between 3’ and 3 ½’ are common, once you start to get longer than 4’ you begin to run the risk of the shaft collapsing under its own weight. For a stiffer shaft, this can lead to the shaft being significantly more susceptible to snapping under its own weight if too long. For more flexible shafts, too much length will generally result in a product that never really stands up, though these are usually cheap clones.

Conclusion

When figuring out which cattle prod is right for you, there really is not a bad option on our list – though that might have a bit to do with the fact that a single company manufactures all of the major brands. That said, the different products do each offer a unique solution depending on what your particular needs are. It is hard to go wrong with Miller’s flagship cattle prod, the Duraprod DX36 since it uses both the best handle as well as the best shaft. On top of that, it provides a nice balance in price compared to the budget option or the top of the line model.

On the other hand, if you need a budget option, the Magrath Livestock Prod does provide a solid product, even if it does have the least impressive rod that we saw. Counter to that, if you do not mind spending a little bit more, the Hot Shot HS2000 easily provides one of the best options for newer livestock owners.