There are four important points to be considered in the building of a dipping tank:
First—An entering slide, steep enough to shoot the animal in, without a direct drop. A direct drop, the entire depth of the tank, is likely to injure the animal.
Second—The tank must be narrow enough to prevent the animal turning around when once in, long enough to keep him in from one to two minutes, and deep enough not only to make him swim, but also that he may disappear entirely when he takes the plunge.
Third—The slope at the leaving end must be gentle and the footing roughened or cleated so that the animal may easily scramble to the dripping pens.
Fourth—As the liquid dip is the most expensive part of dipping, there must be provided two dripping pens draining back into the tank.
Select a well drained site convenient for a chute leading from a small, well-fenced lot or corral. At the narrow end of the chute and in line with it lay out the dipping tank with the entering slide next to the chute.
Often the chute is built on a curve, so that the animals cannot see where they are going.