A method is described of delivering animals from a runway (10) having outer fencing (37, 38) to a handling area (40), comprising the steps of: introducing animals into said runway (10) and allowing them to move towards said handling area (40); allowing a first animal into said handling area (40) from said runway (10); moving at least one gate (21, 22) from a first position adjacent said outer fences (37, 38) to a second position adjacent the centre of said runway (10) so as to prevent a second animal from entering said handling area (40), the gate (21, 22) elastically gripping the head of the animal when in said second position, so that when the animal moves forward the gripping pressure increases by said at least one gate (21, 22) moving further towards the centre of said runway (10) and when the animal moves back the gripping pressure reduces; and after processing of said first animal, moving said at least one gate (21, 22) back to said first position and repeating steps 2 to 4. An apparatus is described which includes at least first and second gates (21, 22) which extend respectively from outer walls (37, 38) of a runway (10) to first locations adjacent the centre of the runway (10) for preventing animals leaving the same. The first and second gates (21, 22) are movable substantially horizontally from the first locations to a further position for allowing animals to leave the runway (10). The apparatus includes elastic gripping means.