A calving gate assembly 1 comprises a head-gate 2 having an opening 3 for reception of an animal's head. The head-gate 2 is mounted to a side wall 6. A swinging gate 8 is mounted on the head-gate 2 for pivotal movement between an open position within an opening in the head-gate 2, and a closed position extending perpendicular to the head-gate 2. The closed position forms an animal receiving stall 10 between the swinging gate 8 and the side wall 6. A safety controller (e.g. damper) is present to regulate movement of the swinging gate 8 from the closed to the open position. The safety controller could be mounted between the head-gate 2 and the swinging gate 8. The safety controller could also be a telescopic locking mechanism controlled by a spring loaded clutch plate (29, fig 2), that could be operated remotely by an operating lever (44, fig 2) connected by a cable (41, fig 2).
