Whether you ’re drag a undivided steer to the vet or bringing home an intact group of cattle from the sale barn , transporting farm animal is a serious task . At some point in your time of raising cattle , you will likely need to either transport some for yourself or observe somebody else to do it for you . Although purchasing a livestock lagger can be a large investment , if properly cared for it can last a long metre and be a great asset to your homestead .
Once you do get started hauling cattle , here are some tips for not only good laggard care , but also preparing to hale livestock , andsafe ram practiceswhile doing so .
Truck & Trailer Maintenance
maintain your trailer in good working consideration is crucial for not only the length of service of it , but also safety during use . Regularly clean out both manure and used bedding will assist forestall rust / oxidization from forming and eating by at the metallic element frame .
If it has a Sir Henry Joseph Wood floor , see to it that any fixing necessitate are done promptly can help to avoid the floor rotting and an animal break through .
Along with regular cleaning , it ’s also important to keep lights , brakes and bike heraldic bearing in well working order . As local farmer and cattleman ( and my husband ) Kolton Krispense points out , the pickup truckyou’re rive the drone with penury to be good to debar develop down and strand you along the side of a route with a load of oxen .
This can make undue focus for both you and the kine , and it can even require call another hand truck to total clean up the livestock .
Read more : Own farm animal ? You need a honest poke .
Pre-Trip Checklist
Each meter before you force out on a trip , do a walk - around of your rig and check it over exhaustively . audit the tyre to determine if any are modest or leak . Watch for crack along the stunned edge , as this can cause a tyre to be more prostrate to wicked failure . try out both your truck and trailer light to ensure they ’re in workings order .
As you walk around , check the wheels for any escaped lug nuts . Look over your end logic gate for any cracks or breaks in the metal , which could potentially be accentuate when oxen push against it . And of course , be certain to check your local regulations for accomplished information regarding fomite inspection .
Read more : Wooden trailer and wagon have some literal advantages .
Safe Driving Tips
Driving a loaded pickup and stock lagger can be a rather intimidate experience at first . Although you might get more comfortable the longer you do it , it ’s good to always remain cautious and alert .
While it will vary from shipment to loading , a truck and trailer weigh a plenty more than a car and will take a greater length and clock time to stop . Keep this in idea as you drive .
Before you head out , take the time to trace the poke floor with a level of good bedding material ( such as wood chips ) , which will aid the cattle grip the base and soften the trailer storey over a recollective distance .
It can be helpful on big loads to separate the kine into separate groups , though this will depend on the phone number of animate being you ’re hauling and if the trailer has more than one compartment ( split by a gate between ) . Splitting the load can allow them to fit together more snugly in a compartment , so if an incident occurs where the vehicle has to slue or move cursorily , they will be less probable to bounce around in the trailer .
Once loaded , do your best to both speed up and come to a hitch gently . Plan before and start slowing down in pot of metre . try on to provide the animals the smooth drive you could .
During the summertime , it ’s good to stave off haul cattle in a prevue when it ’s extremely hot out , as this stresses the cows . To forfend this , consider lead earlier in the day or afterwards in the eve when cool . check that your trailer has good ventilation , allowing plenty of air flow rate .
Hauling cattle can be a good learning experience , but it ’s one you always need to take seriously . Take your time and do your beneficial to drive safely . Be aware of not only what is going on around you but also in the trailer behind you , as oxen can move and shift about .
Please keep in min that these lead are just some good , canonic suggestion to facilitate when hauling cattle . Refer to yourstate or federal guidelinesfor proper function . Safe travels !
