Keeping Baby Heifers Looking Fresh On A Long Trip

[zak]

Whats the best way to keep spring '11 heifers not get that worn out look on a 10 hour trip?

Zak

 

[SSIMMENTALS]

For us: offload and into a pen at tie outs. Give them water immediately and keep it available through the night. Offer them feed once they have settled down a bit and give them plenty of hay to munch on that night while they are loose in their pen. We also stall our most timid babies in the middle of the beds inside. They eat better when surrounded by buddies rather than on the end.

 

[bcosu]

it's pretty hard to do really. you have to have them trained to eat well away from home and to drink. pretty much everything gets wrung out after a trailer ride like that it's just how fast can you get them to recover.

 

[cdncowboy]

Make the trip as quick as possible - the fewer delays the better.  Assume your headed to a show, get in as soon as they will allow, get them off the trailer get them fed and watered and leave alone as long as you possibly can.  The more time undisturbed the easier the recovery.  10 hours for calves that eat and drink well isn't to bad to bounce back from. 

 

[chiangus]

Yep, it can stress them out especially if they are not used to rides in the trailer.  I will echo what everyone says be sure to get them plenty of water.

 

[bovine and equine]

We just hauled from Wisconsin to Maine for a show and had pretty good luck with watering & giving hay at every other fuel stop. We did not give grain until we arrived in Maine.  They were tied so they could lie or stand.  Make sure they are vaccinated properly and we give Naselgen before every road trip. 

 

[vc]

For shows that are long hauls, we use electrolytes the week before (we use Refresh) put it in their feed for a week before and bucket water with it as well the day before the trip.
We only feed hay the night before the trip, free choice.
Depending on the length of the trip, we water with electrolytes about every 4 to 6 hours and give hay at the same time.
Once you get them unloaded and settled give them some water with the electrolytes and hay, start them on your feed routine at your normal feeding time. If you get there at noon and don’t usually feed until 6:00pm, feed them at 6:00pm. If you get there at 9:00 pm feed a half ration and start them on full the next morning at feeding time.
We also hit them with Cellarator Turbo the night before the trip and once we get them settled at the show.