My girls are coming home!

[Jackie]

I just got a call that my dexter heifers are bred and ready to go. One is a yearling and the other is a 2 year old. I have NEVER hauled cattle before so I am a bit nervous. I want to make sure I do everything right. The trailer I have to borrow is an older, small two horse straight load with a divider in the middle. UGH. It's going to make loading them a PITB. Way too easy for them to back out before we get the doors shut, but it has to be done that way.

Do cows like to lay down in trailers? The ride is going to be 6+ hours long on the way home. Should I put some straw in the trailer? I have hauled many many horses before, should cows be any different? Any tips?

[Oakshire_Farm]

Can you take the divider out??? Cows do best if they can move around? If they hve horns, DO NOT REMOVE THE DIVIDER! I had a horible experience hauling cows with horns. I have a 18 month old holstein with horns and 2 angus, the angus were full of holes after a half hour ride to the butcher

Yes to straw in the trailer and hay for them to munch on. I would also recomend giving them some electrolites for 24 hours before trailering. The weather is getting pretty hot and you would not want them to get dehydrated.

[DairyGoatSlave]

use there tails if they dont want to load, and do the side that that latch is NOT on first. I dont know if im making any sense but im trying. also a second person holding a rope stretched across the butt will help load em.
Or just use halters and lead ropes

[Jackie]

Originally Posted by Oakshire_Farm

Can you take the divider out??? Cows do best if they can move around? If they hve horns, DO NOT REMOVE THE DIVIDER! I had a horible experience hauling cows with horns. I have a 18 month old holstein with horns and 2 angus, the angus were full of holes after a half hour ride to the butcher

Yes to straw in the trailer and hay for them to munch on. I would also recomend giving them some electrolites for 24 hours before trailering. The weather is getting pretty hot and you would not want them to get dehydrated.

Nope. Divider is welded in. They do not have horns. I will talk to their breeder about water. thanks.

[Jackie]

Originally Posted by DairyGoatSlave

use there tails if they dont want to load, and do the side that that latch is NOT on first. I dont know if im making any sense but im trying. also a second person holding a rope stretched across the butt will help load em.
Or just use halters and lead ropes

We will probably just use a chute to load them, but getting the doors closed will be a bit hard. I forgot about the tail thing with cattle. Thanks.