Getting ready for the cows to come home!

[Wags]

I will be picking up our first cows the middle of next week - a couple of yearling Dexter heifers. I'm very excited, (still can't believe that hubby finally agreed!) and know that I have a bit of work ahead of me to prep for their arrival.

We have an old 12x16 horse shelter that I am going to rehab for them, and then I want to use cattle panels to set up a corral area until they get used to us and their new surroundings. That will give us time to finish off the pasture fencing.

I'm a compulsive list maker - if it isn't on the list I'm not likely to remember it. So here is my shopping list for tomorrow's excursion to the feed store - is there anything I'm forgetting?

2 halters & lead ropes (not sure on size)
water tub
range cubes (treats?)
grass hay (just until they are out of the corral)
curry brush
cattle panels
mineral block

Also have a question on transport - my dad thinks that using a 4x8 utility trailer with 4 or 5ft sides would be fine, since that's they way they used to do it when he was a youngster. Granted these two aren't over 3.5' but I still think that renting a horse or stock trailer would be the safer way to go since they are located about 60 miles away from us.

I also need to make arrangements to have them dehorned - so they will need someway to restrain them. Hmmm wonder if it is possible to rent a squeeze shoot.

[bigmudder77]

id go with a horse/cattle trailer depending on how the sides on that trailer were made they can break through it if its cheap wood they might not want to just might get loose there balance

[Wags]

I have a horse trailer on reserve - no one around here rents stock trailers.

[whiterabbit454]

congrats on your new cattle
nita

[Wags]

Thanks, I will post some pics once they arrive.

[bigmudder77]

ya im not sure any one does that around here also unless you find a farmer or some thing that will let you barrow it

[Cheribelle]

I take them to the vet for dehorning. He has a chute and is really reasonable if you haul them in. Seems like the last one was $7.50

[Wags]

Doing it there would be ideal, but I don't think they have the facilities to do it on premise, since they are located in the middle of town. Plus it's 20 miles one way for me to go get a rental trailer. When you figure the cost of renting a trailer and the gas to pick up and return it, the vet's farm visit fee starts to look a lot more reasonable.