Transporting Cattle Long Distance

[Mueller Show Cattle]

OK, I had never hauled cattle very long distance, Looking at getting a couple bred cows (3 to 4 months along) and a couple steer calves (Not from these bred cows). I will be picking them up from my dad in Missouri and transporting them to Wyoming. It is a 1,050 miles which takes about 15 to 15 1/2 hours drive time. I usually stop and stay in a hotel cause with my 3 year old daughter, it is a little much driving straight through. But I can drive it straight through if you think it is better for the cattle to drive straight through. So is it better to drive half way and stop or go straight through for the cattle? But if I stopped the cattle would stay in the trailer as I don't have any place to let them out in a corral area and they are not tame yet. I was also going to put a half of a 55 gallon drum with some water in it inside the trailer plus bring a couple small hay bales with me to feed them when I stop for fuel. What do you suggest and any comments is appreciated, Thanks.

 

[3dfarms]

How big is your trailer?  If the cattle have enough room to move around, they will be fine over night.  I would make sure they have hay and water.  As long as the water didn't slosh out of the drum, that would work fine.  Just make sure to check the water when you stop. 

Main thing is just make sure they have room to move around and you pick the right place to stop and you should be fine.  Best of luck on the haul.  I just drove from NC to FL and back with my wife, 3 yr old daughter and 8 month old son.  I can make the trip one way in 10 hrs....pretty sure it took us 14 

 

[The Show]

I prefer/recommend going non stop. The less their on a trailer the better they'll do, and with it being as hot as it is I wouldn't want to leave them on a trailer over night. I would bust up a bale of hay for them, and put a few buckets of water in when you stop for fuel and then pull them back out. If you leave water in the trailer I almost guarantee you they will find a way to spill it and all it will do is make a mess. Also make sure you bed the trailer good. The longest I've ever hauled show cattle is about 8-9 hours and they were fine. I know hauling commercial cattle is nothing like show cattle, but we've shipped pot loads 900+ miles non stop without a problem. Keep in mind those cattle were packed tight without feed, bedding, or water.

 

[Pipeliner]

We haul every year down to Denver it's a 1350 miles from home. With stops at the border it takes an average of 24 hrs straight threw. We've done it both ways straight threw and stopped half way. I prefer to stop if the cattle have enough room. We've always made sure they have plenty of bedding and lots of hay. We try watering them at the one stop but never more then a pail for calfs and yearlings the big bulls we let drink a pail and a half....... If they'll drink that is. We've found if they aren't full full of water they travel better and don't have the shits as bad. But I've never hauled in lots of heat so that would change things i would say more water more often. Usually it's well below freezing when we haul.

 

[MOClubbyGuy]

I would recommend driving straight through. Although the drive can be long at times, it would be best to get those cows from one place to another and out of that trailer as quickly as possible. I had this same decision a couple weeks ago when I had to move some cows from Northern Texas to Missouri and it is about 12 hours. I elected to drive straight through the night when it was cool and I think it was the best move on their health and the risk.

 

[nate53]

I think it would be fine either way.  If they are not crowded I would deffinitely stop no reason to get too tired and have a accident.  Water before you load and when you stop they don't need feed (optional), if they did get hot, air movement is the most important not water, forecast for the next week is a lot cooler than it has been.  Drive when its hot and stop and rest and water when it is cool.  A lot of the bigger guys with pot trailers will take animals off feed for at least 12 hrs before trip and just let them drink (maybe not the best idea with the breds), trailers stay a lot cleaner this way.  Also it is illegal to drive 15 hours straight without a  (I want to say 8 hr. break but not sure) unless you have somebody else driving which it sounds like you don't ( 3 year olds don't drive very well).  ;D  Good luck

 

[Mueller Show Cattle]

My trailer is a gooseneck trailer with a 16ft floor that has a subdivider gate. That brings up a different issue, I will be picking up 2 or 3 (don't know yet) bred cows about 1,300lbs a piece plus two 500lb steers. These cows and steers have not been around each other yet and was considering putting the 2 or 3 cows in the front part of the trailer and closing the gate and putting the 2 steers in the back. I was a little worried if I left the gate open that the cows might beat the crap out of them steers during the trip if they get stressed out. I know if I left the gate open they would all have plenty of room to walk around, but if I close it off the cows will be a little snug and the steers will have plenty of room. But I just don't want the cows beating up on the steers, the cows have been around each other plus the steers have. With the bedding, we have thick rubber mats in the trailer, would you still put bedding down? I know bedding will soak up the moisture but figured the cows and steers would not lay down and would stand during the whole trip, am I rite? So do you think I should divide the cows from the steers or not? Since this is going to be in 2 weeks, it will still be hot. So I was thinking of leaving around 6PM and driving through the night and getting home around 9 or 10AM before it gets hot at home as the night drive will be much cooler. Thanks for your comments.

 

[Mueller Show Cattle]

No I will be the only driver as my wife don't like driving my 1 ton dually with a trailer, as it is too big she says as she drives a little Toyota car. She will be keeping the 3 year old daughter occupied when she is awake if she gets crabby. Will have plenty of water and hay with me. If I stop I will drive during the day and stop at night at some hotel. If I drive straight through, I will drive in the evening, cooler plus less traffic.