How to transport and transition new bottle calves???

[RedHogs]

What do you all do when you first buy a bottle calf, how do you transport....

here it is 97 and the drive is about 2 hours.

[G. Seddon]

Sorry, I can't help you with the bottle calf part, but you could transport at night when it's cooler!

[topside1]

Take out the back seat of a van or SUV. Add lots of old towels, quilts, tarp, whatever to create a pen like nest for the new animal. I have also packed them into the backseat of my pick-up. With the pick-up I first flipped up the seat, then made a plywood platform for the animal. Added lots of cloth bedding loaded animal and all was well. My journeys were also 2 hours long. Most day old calves just sleep the entire ride....put the AC on and turn up the radio.....good luck.

[Madsaw]

Originally Posted by topside1

Take out the back seat of a van or SUV. Add lots of old towels, quilts, tarp, whatever to create a pen like nest for the new animal. I have also packed them into the backseat of my pick-up. With the pick-up I first flipped up the seat, then made a plywood platform for the animal. Added lots of cloth bedding loaded animal and all was well. My journeys were also 2 hours long. Most day old calves just sleep the entire ride....put the AC on and turn up the radio.....good luck.

+1
Great ideas that work.
Bob

[milkinpigs]

105 here..108 tomorrow

Move as early in the morning as possible,before daylight if you can.
If you are using a trailer, put down some hay and soak it down...air movement while you go down the road gives the "swamp cooler" effect.

Add gatorade to your milk or replacer,after you feed milk add a pint or two to the bottle and feed them that.

Open pens under shade trees work better than hutches.

Make fresh water available,but not too much;some overdrink and you will have another problem to deal with.