Minimise transport distance 

Request cull cows be sent to a processing facility nearby. Minimising transport time and distance is better for the cow and you, because risk of injury or going down increases with time and distance.

Only transport cows that are not likely to give birth during the journey or within 24hrs of arriving at the destination.  If within 4 weeks of calving date, travel should be less than 2 hours. 

Discuss tall cattle with your transporter

Always let your transport company know if you have any larger or taller cows or bulls in the load.  A single deck truck is best for tall animals, otherwise they should be loaded on the bottom deck to minimise the risk of back rub.

Also tell your transporter if any of the cattle have horns. In most instances, horned cattle should be penned separately on the truck to prevent injury other animals.

Make sure she's fit for transport

Contact your vet, transport operator or processing company if you are unsure whether an animal is fit for transport.

• No signs of ill health
•  No visible wounds, bleeding, disease, deformity or infection
•  No ingrown or recently removed horns
• Cancer eye lesions must be confined to the eye, smaller than 2cm and not bleeding or discharging.
•  Able to bear weight evenly on all four limbs
• The right Body Condition Score – BCS 3 or greater.  Cows with BCS below 3 can only be transported to better grazing, not to saleyards or slaughter, and vet advice is recommended.

 Stand cows off green feed for at least 4 hours

• Stand stock off green feed for at least 4 hours (but for no more than 12 hours).
• A grazed-out paddock or stand-off pad are better options because concrete surfaces can contribute to tender feet and aren’t good for lying.

Give extra calcium

Lactating cows need extra calcium, in addition to extra magnesium, on the day of transport. The extra calcium could be given as an oral drench, extra allowance of calcium-enriched meal, or a slurry poured over dry feed.

If no roughage on hand it is possible to mix with dry feed/meal in troughs in the yard. Use the same rates as for colostrum cow supplementation.

Video

Calcium is hugely important for your in-milk cows during transport. This short video explains why, and what you can do to boost calcium before transport.

Provide roughage and water

Continue feeding silage, hay or straw during stand-off, especially for lactating cows or prior to long-distance journeys.

Ensure all stock have access to water prior to loading. Many farmers have plumbed in a basic water trough at the yards that can be filled whilst the yards are in use. Remember, this will be their last chance to eat and they won’t get a drink until they arrive.