Shipping Stock in Cool Weather

[Chuckie]

After the sale, the cattle I bought traveled about 400 miles. It was most definitely cooler North of here. I think it was in the 60's when I left and it might have been the mid 40's in Mexico with a good breeze blowing. The cattle rode in a trailer that had one or two slots open at the top. When the arrived they looked fine. But after a few days, the youngest one seemed to develop a snotty nose, but continues to eat and seems to feel OK. I guess I would call this a shipping cold from the stress and the long ride in cooler weather. At what point do I need to doctor them? They act as though they feel OK and they still have a big appetite.

 

[fellersbarnoneranch]

Had 2 young heifers go snotty after shipping last week. Their eyes went to watering and I resolved to watch them and medicate the next day if they didn't look better. Sure wish I had done something right away. The next day one's eye had gone hazy blue. I ran them both through the chute and dosed with LA200 and patched and sprayed their eyes. They ate great, just went runny-eyed and snotty-nosed. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I wish I had acted sooner.

 

[CattleAnnie]

Shipping fever isn't unusual in cattle...especially young stock. The stress of it depresses the immune system, leaving the animal more susceptible to illnesses. That's why most feedlots that I know give the new stock antibiotics and vaccines as soon as they get off the truck. Sort of preventative medicine, but also for those animals that are coming down with pnuemonia, etc but not showing symptoms yet.

Take care.

 

[Dana Kopp]

In my experience, the cool weather is a plus in a sense. The calves or cows all stuffed in a trailer create a whole lot of heat and humidity, so cool air blowing in as you are travelling can help keep them from over-heating. When we shipped cattle we made sure every vent was open and with a stock trailer we already had the open slats in the sides for air circulation - the temp was in the mid 40s. It seemed to reduce the amount of humidity/condensation on the trailer and on their bodies.
BUT without good venting or air circ. when they are unloaded their hot little bodies are exposed to the cold air, combine that with the stress of weaning, shipping and exposure to other cattle, etc. you probably have a pretty good chance of sickness.

 

[TheBullLady]

Definately sounds like "shipping fever".. I would treat them right away to reduce the risk of it turning into something worse, like pnuemonia.

Dana's right.. our vet from up north always told me ventalation is key to keeping them healthy.. if they are scrunched up in a trailer they are breathing the close air and getting hot, and stressed from shipping.

 

[Chuckie]

The snotty noses appeared several days ago. Now they seem to have cleared up. I didn't give them any medication, they seemed to shake it off. I still will keep an eye on them.

 

[bolsen]

Have had alot of problems with this as well bringing cattle from the midwest to the Dakotas is a drastic change in the winter months and almost always you wind up with a few that get snoty noses not a big deal it' easily cured by a little warmth if you have that ability.