Tips for Shipping Cattle

Every time I open the mailbox there is a new cattle sale flyer inside.  It is that time of year that there is either a cattle auction or online sale just about every day.  

Spring calves are being weaned and are ready to leave the farm.  Buying and selling is at its peak.  

If you have ever bought a cow from a long distance, one of the most difficult things is figuring out the logistics of getting that new cow to your farm.  

If you are close enough or are able to, picking up the cattle yourself is always the best option.  However, when you are purchasing across the country, it is not always feasible to have the time or resources to haul the cattle yourself.  It is also very expensive to pay for fuel to travel that far to pick up one or two cows.  

Professional cattle haulers are very good at coordinating cross country trips to maximize the number of cattle in transit while minimizing the cost for each individual.  

In the past several years we have bought cattle from Colorado and Washington.  We have used haulers every time.  It is just not in the cards to have Daniel drive over 24 hours to pick up a cow, only to turn right back around and drive another 24 hours home.  

We have had some good experiences and some not so good experiences.  Over the years, we have learned (mostly the hard way) some ways to make the experience better for you, the seller, and most importantly, the cow.

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During the entire process the most important thing is that you communicate.  It is so important that everyone is on the same page and knows what is expected of them.  You are ultimately coordinating at least 3 different people and you should never assume anything.  Lay it all out on the line.  

You have just spent a lot of money purchasing the future of your farm.  Don't let anyone take that for granted. 

Before the Sale

1. Before you even finalize the sale, make sure that you discuss shipping options and timing.  When will the cow be ready to ship?  If you have to wait a few days or even weeks for your hauler to be in the area, is the seller willing to keep the cow for that extra time?  Has the calf just been weaned?  If so, it is usually better to wait a couple weeks to let them get used to that stress before adding the stress of shipping.
2. Two is better than one.  This is not always possible, but it is always better to ship with a buddy.  Having another cow that they are familiar with always helps to reduce the stress of shipping.  If you are looking to purchase more than one cow, seriously consider purchasing them from the same farm. 

Choosing a Hauler

1. Get recommendations.   Ask everyone you know what hauler they have used.  Find out the good, the bad and the ugly.  Sometimes bad things happen that are completely out of the control of the hauler and sometimes things happen that are indications that you should find someone else.  Weigh all your options and do your research.  
2. Communicate with the hauler.  Talk to them personally and make sure that you both have the same expectations for the trip.  How long will the trip take?  What is the cost?  How are the cows cared for?  Who will be driving?  Sometimes haulers subcontract trips out, so make sure you are comfortable with the actual driver.  Will there be any stops along the way?  Will the cow be held at a location while waiting to meet up with another load of cattle? Will the cow be in a section by themselves or with other cattle on the trip?  You can request a separate compartment, but that may cost extra.  
3. Give the hauler the sellers contact information.  The hauler is going to need to contact the seller and arrange pick up times as well as secure the health papers for the trip.  
4. Ask about insurance.  Most haulers do not carry insurance on your animal.  This is usually your responsibility, but make sure you have that conversation.  Accidents do happen, so guard your investment.  We don't always keep the insurance on the animal after arrival, but always have insurance during the trip.  

Before the Hauler Arrives

Before the cows are loaded onto the trailer, there are several things we request our sellers to do.  We have not always done this and have come to regret it.  Some cows may do fine without these precautions...but they are precautions.  It is a very stressful time and anything that you can do proactively is just going to help you achieve a successful outcome.
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1. Make sure that the seller knows the hauling instructions.  You are not going to be present to load the cow onto the trailer, so make sure that the seller knows the arrangements that you have made with the hauler.  If you have specified that the cow is to be in a compartment by itself, then have the seller verify the cow is loaded that way.  The seller is handing off their baby and is just as concerned about the trip as you are.  Work together to make sure that everything is as it should be.
   
2. Administer a 7-day antibiotic.  Our vet recommends Excede, but some vets recommend other similar drugs.  This just helps to guard against shipping fever and catching anything from the other cows that might be on the trailer.  Cows are also more susceptible to illness when under stress.  
3. AdministerProbios.  Probios is a probiotic that helps to keep the gut functioning properly and helps to keep the cow eating and drinking.
   
4. Take temperature.  One of the first indications of illness is an elevated temperature.  Just like a person, each cow has a little bit different "normal" temperature.  By asking the seller to take the temperature of the cow right before loading, you have a baseline to determine if the temperature is elevated upon arrival. 

While You are Waiting

1. Buy feed.  Find out what kind of feed the cow was on at their old farm.  If that feed is different than what you feed, purchase a couple of bags of their old feed.  They have had a lot of change in a few short days, so give them something familiar for a while.  Then you can gradually wean them off of the old feed by mixing with your feed. 
2. Make sure that you are ready with cash or check to pay the hauler.  
3. Patience, patience, patience.  I know it is like waiting for Santa, but the truck can only go so fast.  Sometimes delays happen.  Tires go flat, snow storms randomly appear and traffic jams just happen.  Your driver is coming a long way and has a lot of potential setbacks.  Be patient and kind.  I am sure the driver wants to get to your farm just as badly as you want him to. 

The Day You Have Been Waiting For

The day has finally arrived! This has been months...sometimes years in the making.

1. Be ready.  These haulers are here to drop your cow and then leave.  There is always another stop down the road with someone just as anxious as you to get their cow.  Make sure you are there when the hauler arrives.  Don't make them wait on you.  
2. Quarantine the cow.  It is always a good practice to quarantine any animal new to your farm.  This ensures that if the cow is sick or carrying any diseases, it is not spread to the rest of your animals.  Cows are a very social animal.  While the new cow needs to be separated from the rest of the herd, make sure that they can see the other cows.  This will give them a buddy and help them to not be so stressed.  We usually quarantine for at least a week.  
3. Take temperature.  Since you already have a baseline, you will immediately know if the temperature is elevated.  A slightly elevated temperature really isn't a big deal.  They have been under a lot of stress and many times the temperature will go down on its own in a day or two.  The important part is to just know so that you can make educated decisions if treatment is needed. 
4. Administer 7-day antibiotic.  We sometimes administer an additional dose of Excede as a precautionary measure.  This just helps to kick anything before it gets out of control.  Talk with your vet to get their recommendation.
5. Call the seller.  The seller is just as nervous and anxious for the trip as you are.  Be sure to let them know that their "baby" has arrived safely.  
6. Give them a few days to adjust.  The quarantine time is a great time to just let the cow rest.  I am always tired after a long car ride and I am sure the cows are exhausted after 3 or 4 days in a trailer. Give them some time to get adjusted to their new stall, new water, new feed, new weather, new cows and new people. 

Making progress. She has come a long way but we still have a ways to go. #sixqueen #minihereford #miniaturehereford #4wileyfarm #showheifer #miniaturecattle

A photo posted by 4 Wiley Farm (@4wileyfarm) on Oct 26, 2015 at 5:54am PDT

Buying cattle across the country is a huge decision.  Shipping cows can be very stressful and expensive.  

Why do we do it?   Because sometimes you just need to.  Sometimes you need to vary your genetics, maybe you found a really good deal on a cow, or maybe it is just simply that you want THAT cow.  

Shipping cattle can be done succesfully if you do your homework and communicate, communicate, communicate.  Don't be afraid to ask questions.  It is better to know than assume.  

Charity and Saxon arrived all the way from Washington in great shape.  They were eating and drinking within 15 minutes and have just continued to thrive.  We still can't believe what a difference a good hauling situation can make.  

​We have had some bad experiences with shipping, but this year we had a wonderful experience.  We had an initial setback that required some people to make some very difficult decisions, but we trusted their judgment, and looking back wouldn't have done anything differently.  ​​

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