Lessening stress during transport

We just picked up the trailer we borrowed and it sounds just like the one you describe, only there is a pretty big opening in the back above the doors. It seems pretty high up - but I wonder if I don't need to do something to block it so it's not tempting.



WHY I asked if she would stand tied so you could tie head in front of trailer

^I'm calling the seller tomorrow to find out.

Hi Shannon! congrats on the new cow! let me know if I can help you are heading into my neck of the woods... don't feel bad looks like I will be traveling to St. Louis to get an adorable micro mini looking cow in the next few weeks! the things we do for cows since she is so little my horse trailer will be fine with divider out, though I do have "curtains" over the back doors that secure...

I have had two incidents with a trailer as you described. While hauling a mare and her cold the colt jumped out the opening as we were going roughly 50 MPH. The second incident, while hauling on the interstate a 2 year old saddlebred that was tethered at the front of the trailer, he managed to get upside down with his head still tied. If you tie the cow make certain that you can get the tie rope loose in event the animal goes down. I had a bull transported 2900 miles. He traveled around 500 miles each day. Nothing special was given to him other than feed and water. He arrived intact and with to signs of wear. I doubt that you will have a problem. Let the cow get herself off the trailer, don't force her. You could dig two holes where the trailer will be when unloading for the wheels to drop down allowing easier unloading. PS....Check the floor in the trailer to maker CERTAIN there are no holes or gaps large enough to get a foot through or caught. If the floor is slick get a bag of shavings and throw on the floor. IMO, foot or leg damage is the greatest risk.

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Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

HEY! I will be close to you! I checked the map and I'll be really near your neck of the woods! I will take your number with me just incase, too! And - hoping I can use my goat trailer to go back for calves sometime soon. Brought 5 goats home in it last month and it did WONDERFULLY!


This cow is not halter broke. Does that change my plans?

I've never had any problems trailering cattle. They just settle down.

Give her a lot of clean nice hay to keep her occupied.

If the top half of the back door is open, you will need to cover that.

If you are not used to trailering animals, you have to drive like you've got eggs under the pedals. Every move is magnified in the trailer. Glide to stops, take corners slow and smooth. Accelerate gradually. Then you won't throw her around and she will ride just fine.

Do cover the top opening on those doors! I had one jump out, luckily I was close to home!

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With what should I cover the opening?

I've trailered three cows home in a two horse bumper pull trailer with the center divider removed. Only had to go about 25 miles. Two of them rode fine, the other one was convinced she could jump out the the little door above her head in the front of the trailer. Somehow she managed to bump it open. I could tell she was restless because of the shifting in the trailer while we were rolling. I looked in the rearview to see her head sticking out and I could tell she was trying to jump up and out. Pretty nerve wracking to say the least. I'm sure if the rear door tops had been open, she would have.

Will you have any kind of halter on her before she leaves the farm? It might help if something goes wrong or you end up having to tie her in the trailer.

Congrats on getting your Guernsey! Do you have any pictures of her?

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~Carla~

My trailer now has plywood covers for the opening above the doors! Make sure it's something solid, fence panel wire didn't work for us. He saw the way out and took it!

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Congrats on your new girl!

I don't think I'd tranqualize her. I wouldn't tie her either. I'd cover the opening like other folks have said. I'd also put a lot of hay back there for her to keep her busy.

If you've never done it..get in the trailer and have someone drive you five miles and back. Then you will know exactly how to drive with a cow in the back. I did this before I hauled my first horse..it is eye opening.

Are you going to put her in a barn or smaller type lot when you get her home? Sometimes that's better than a huge open area. She will be nervous coming in new somewhere.

The VERY best to you and have a safe trip!

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Update?

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TOPSIDE FARMS

We are home!

And holy cow what an experience!

We got her about 9:30am Saturday morning and she had been milked. She was *not* wanting to go into the trailer and the farmer and my SO were convinced she wouldn't fit. I wasn't giving up so easily.

We finally got her loaded in the trailer and she was in there tight. She isn't a lovey kinda cow-we are still getting used to each other. She did ride well (she didn't have much choice) and we got home about 1am. Once she figured how to get out she ate and drank and paced and met the goats and chased them and found the hay bale and I settled in with a heavy coat and lattern until about 4am. She just kept walking.

I got back up early yesterday with some romantic notion I'd skip to the pasture with my clean bucket and drink her milk on the way up the hill. That so did not happen.

I gave up trying to milk her about 7pm-after building two makeshift milking areas. I stopped sobbing about 10pm.

Got a rope, Googled how to make a slip knot and went back down the hill this morning. That was almost 4 hours ago but by golly she is milked. I only got kneed in the head 3 times! And not too bad-she wasn't trying to hurt me, just trying to make me quit.

I didn't get a drop of milk to keep as she kicked the bucket over and over and over and she wasn't as deflated as she was when I picked her up, but after milking on her for almost an hour I swear there was no more I could get out by hand.

But she is home, she survived, I survived though my emotions are a wreck and we are on our way to being friends. Not fast friends as I had hoped, but she's here and I love her. Even if she is as stubborn and hard headed as I am.

Thanks for the help. <3

oh my crazy adventure, am glad the trip while stressful was safe. Be careful, cows seem a quirky creature even when they seem to love you maybe give her a good curry after you milk, cows are always so itchy

My only advice is to keep her penned for several days....I'm sure she is but figured I'd mention it anyway. Making one of these would help at milking time....Topside

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TOPSIDE FARMS

am fixing to build me one of these as soon as the barn is done love it!