Hauling question

[Wisteria Farms]

Hi guys/gals,
Can some of you who've done this a lifetime offer a suggestion? I'm picking up a bred cow and her calf plus an extra calf (1 cow, 2 calves). I have a 16' stock trailer with a center gate. Do I:
a) put momma & her calf together
b) put momma by herself & 2 calves together
c) leave gate open and have all 3 together

They'll be traveling 8-9 hours.

Momma is approx 1700 lbs. (yes, I know thats big but she's nice) Calf 1 was born early April, Calf 2 was born late June
I've hauled plenty of horses and a couple show steers/heifers but they were all used to being tied so this has me a little concerned as to how to go about getting them home as safely as possible. Thanks for any replies.

 

[dun]

I'ld put the cow in the front and the calves in the back

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Dun,

I've read your posts plenty... thats exactly what I'll do... thank you.

 

[Medic24]

Ditto :cboy:

 

[Sir Loin]

b) put momma by herself & 2 calves together
SL

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Thank you and thank you... I thought that was my answer but wanted reassurance. This way mom can see/smell her baby (and vice versa) but no danger of mom accidentally hurting either of them. Will it hurt to offer some hay for the trip or will it give them squirts (beyond normal nervous poops)?

 

[grannysoo]

For a 9 hour trip, you might want to consider some water somewhere along the way......

 

[CKC1586]

I wouldn't worry about having to stop and water for a 9 hour trip. You would need to find a place to unload and chances are they won't drink from "strange tank" unless you were to stop for several hours. If they are not halter broke could get dicey in new surroundings to unload and reload. No need to add stress and make the trip longer. Load em up and take em home. You could put hay in the trailer but they probably won't eat it, they will be more interested in figuring out where the heck they are going.
Good luck and congratulations on bringing your Murray's home.

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Again, excuse my "equine" mentality but.... do any of you use electrolyte paste? For the horses we do just as added insurance. I know with these girls the odds of getting it in them arent good (and I wouldn't want to stress them trying) but in the future... for going to shows and such, do any of you use it? I'm not talking about a two day trip where its obvious that they need WATER...

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Thanks! Yes, I'd be more worried if we had those August temps to deal with but unless they get a severe case of the nervous sweats I think we'll be OK. I'm hoping mom will just lay down and enjoy the ride... we'll go easy with them and I'll post some pic's.. I think we're going Friday.

 

[Susie David]

I'd just insure that they had access to water before they are loaded and haul away.
Don't know your trailer but ours is a old Big Tex with a wooden floor so we sling some sand in before loading. Gives added traction and keeps then from slipping around so much with all the slippery stuff that cows generate..
And thats just my two bits worth...asked for or not...Dave Mc

 

[bigbull338]

id put the cow in the front.an put the calves in the back.never haul cattle with penning them with the center gates.if they run loose in trailer.they can spinn an turn.an run all over the trailer.dont worry about water till they get where your hauling them.

 

[Wisteria Farms]

I'd just insure that they had access to water before they are loaded and haul away.
Don't know your trailer but ours is a old Big Tex with a wooden floor so we sling some sand in before loading. Gives added traction and keeps then from slipping around so much with all the slippery stuff that cows generate..
And thats just my two bits worth...asked for or not...Dave Mc

Dave, the trailer is a Corn Pro... wooden floor but with rubber mats and deep shavings (again... we're primarily horses.... and just getting into the cattle). We sold our gooseneck horsetrailer (with living quarters) thinking we could "get by" with a regular travel trailer and smaller stock trailer. MISTAKE...we'll soon be getting rid of the corn pro and going to a larger stock gooseneck. Thanks for your 2 cents... well taken.

 

[Avalon]

As regards to Electrolytes. We give them to show cattle when going to a show at times. But not usually to breeding stock unless they are sick. If we do it is often the same paste you use or a powder formula.

 

[Wisteria Farms]

To everyone that offered advice.... we made it home just fine. We loaded momma in the front, the two heifers in the back and everything went great. Thanks so much!

 

[Sir Loin]

Wisteria Farms
Glad all went well,
but
Re:

Again, excuse my "equine" mentality but.... do any of you use electrolyte paste? For the horses we do just as added insurance.

IMO, absolutely not for cattle or horses.
Why would you want to give any animal, or person, a dose of salt then confine them where they can’t get to any water?
Electrolyte will make them thirsty.
I can see after a trip maybe, but never before or during a trip.

That’s like giving a kid a big bag of potato chips and not expect him to ask for a drink on the 9 hr trip to grandma’s house.
SL

 

[Wisteria Farms]

Wisteria Farms
Glad all went well,
but
Re:

Again, excuse my "equine" mentality but.... do any of you use electrolyte paste? For the horses we do just as added insurance.

IMO, absolutely not for cattle or horses.
Why would you want to give any animal, or person, a dose of salt then confine them where they can’t get to any water?
Electrolyte will make them thirsty.
I can see after a trip maybe, but never before or during a trip.

That’s like giving a kid a big bag of potato chips and not expect him to ask for a drink on the 9 hr trip to grandma’s house.
SL

SL... I understand your reasoning. Now here's mine. Electrolyte paste (JUG) is not pure sodium... it contains vitamins, minerals, etc. Horses (maybe cows too) are generally very picky about their water. If this encourages them to drink when they otherwise would turn their nose up then it is a good thing. It is not given as a replacement for water. I'm sorry if that's the way it sounded... you notice in my post I referenced nervous sweats/temperatures... electrolytes replace that salt that is lost through sweating (a horse will become drenched in sweat when stressed). I was merely asking if cattle did the same or if attention was give to that... I asked out of consideration, not because I am cruel to my animals. I guess I worded it wrong.