Newbie Advise?

[Bubbas Boys]

We are making the trip down South on Friday to pick up out Dexter cow and her heifer calf. These will be our first cattle ever. We have gotten from the breeder what they eat and how they are housed, so we can copy that to smooth the transition. I am looking for advise or tips for bring home new ones and being rookies. Anything at all. The trip will be about 3 hours, the weather is going to be 40 degrees or so. Will they need any meds when we get home after that kind of trip? We have there pen all ready. Thanks!!

[nosqrls]

They should of gotten by now it takes 2 or more days to take effect. Hope you have a enclosed front trailer. 40 degrees and a 60 mph wind is cold.

[Carol K]

They should travel well, that's not far. If you are not having the breeder give a nasal vac for shipping fever then watch them close for the first week, if they show any sign of fever consult your vet.
I would put them in a stall when they arrive, feed and water them by hand, let them get used to you. Brush them when you feel safe with them. I'd keep them stalled until they are comfortable with you and you them.
If you turn them out right away they can run through fence just because they don't know where they are. Also, you may not be able to get near them to get acquainted with if their area is too big.
Good luck, enjoy your new cattle

Carol K

[genebo]

When they get home, put them where they cannot escape and keep them there for up to 3 days. Maybe even leave them in the trailer, parked in the middle of your pasture.

Make it a place where they can see, smell and hear all that is going on at your place. They need to learn where they live before you let them into a big place where they might get out.

Remember, they won't know where they live, and should they get out, they won't know how to come back. They won't have the sound of other cows to come back to.

[sassafras manor]

Advice that was given to me by a neighbor when I first got cattle was this:
Every time you head to feed them make a specific sound or call ("moooo" or certain phrase) and carrry a similar container of feed each time. It comes in handy as they learn the routine that should they ever get out a simple call and clank of that feed container will bring them running.

[Bubbas Boys]

All great tips. Thanks a lot. We are sooo excited!!

[Awnry Abe]

Congrats! I hope everything goes smoothly. Post us some pics after the dust settles a bit, please!

[Bubbas Boys]

I sure will. I am dreading the drive. I even don't like to leave our little county much less travel 3 hours, but gotta go where the cows you want are at.

[MO_cows]

Put some bedding in your trailer for anti-slip footing. Getting hauled makes them nervous and you will be amazed how much poop and pee comes out of them. Another vote here for penning them up when they first get home. Let them get used to you, used to the place before turning them out. Good luck!

[Awnry Abe]

Take it easy and don't feel like you can't pull in somewhere and take a break. I remember stopping at in a KC shopping area to grab a bite of lunch once with a trailer full of mooing cows in the parking lot. If you are like me, you won't be accustomed to the long haul. I am a very active person, but driving long distance wears me out. Animals in tow is extra hard. Are you using a livestock trailer?

[Bubbas Boys]

Yes a 16' stock trailer. I am just not a traveler. I hear every noise the truck makes and trailer and I picture breaking down and trying to find a shop you can trust in unfamiliar areas. I am a home body!! haha. We were heading out this morning but last night we had a wheel start smoking and smelling when we went to get new load of hay. I thought REALLY!! So we put off going til tomorrow. I replaced the caliper this morning and I THINK we are good to go tomorrow. Will let you know when we get home with em tomorrow.

[arbullet]

Keeping them in the trailer over night is a good idea. Wished I'd done that last week. I was thinking giving him some leg room would have been better, well I was wrong.

My bull weighs roughly 1200lbs. It was a white knuckle 7hr drive in a 1/2 ton truck. Be careful going around corners.

[MO_cows]

arbullet, you didn't close the center gate? You had 1200 pounds of bull romping around loose in the trailer? Bet that was fun.

[arbullet]

Originally Posted by MO_cows

arbullet, you didn't close the center gate? You had 1200 pounds of bull romping around loose in the trailer? Bet that was fun.

Not because lack of trying, at the time it didn't look like the gate would be able to close. Was easy to tell when he was up and looking around.

The last 3 hours of the drive I never stopped. Once I got home the center gate had closed behind him, thank goodness.

Once at our destination, that mad sucker wanted out. So like a goof ball, I opened the back gate. He busted out of the trailer and off like a rocket. It's really a wonder he didn't kill me or himself. Still in shock that he stopped short of running through a wooden fence.

It was a rookie mistake that I won't make again. My thinking at the time was 1) he'd been in a 16' x 10' corral for three months (having to be kept from cows), figured some leg room would be nice. 2) figured he'd really need some water (had a nice big tub of water right outside the gate).

[M5farm]

Keep e'm in trailer pen over night. Don't turn them out till there settled down. When you do turn an out do it in the morning time. So you got all day to look for e'm if they tear out. Lol

[G. Seddon]

Any new animal to your farm should be kept in a smaller secure enclosure for several days until they learn where "home" is. Turning them out before that is asking for trouble. They're likely to go through a fence looking for other cattle or their old home. Keep them well fed, watered, etc., and then take it slow when introducing the new one to your herd. This also gives you a chance to make sure they're eating, drinking well, and producing manure. Some people quarantine for a couple of weeks, which is also a good idea, due to disease transmission.

[Bubbas Boys]

What should we watch for in these girls? We know about goats but what about cows? Do they need wormed? How do you know if they need probiotics? They are eating great already and drinking.

[M5farm]

Looking at the pics I would go ahead and worm them now. With 2 you can just get paste or pellet wormer. Pour on is ok for lice but does not do that great for internal parasites. Find out if they have been vaccinated. I vaccinate 2 times a year. Consult your vet for their recommendation. I use ultra bac 7 and vira shield

Good luck

[Bubbas Boys]

Thanks M5. I know they have had nothing. The breeder we got them from does not use any meds unless there is something wrong. As much as I like that mind set and it works for some folks, I am way to much of a worrier to sit back and not use preventative measures. We are going to contact the vet on Monday. We dont have a chute though, what kind of issues are we going to have with giving meds to an 8 yr old cow that has never had em and no chute?

[Bubbas Boys]

Oh yeah, what wormer do you use?