Management
T ransport, timing, and other tips
evening to dissipate excess heat when the weather
is somewhat cooler. Establish a rotational grazing
plan to move cattle to new pastures periodically
during the summer based on forage availability
– both the cattle and the forage will thank you.
Transport – If you are hauling calves to be sold
during this time of the year, avoid overcrowding
on stock trailers since you will likely have to
wait before they can be unloaded (see Table 1
for recommended trailer density and footnote).
The more crowded calves are on the trailer can
accelerate shrink loss in calves under increased
heat conditions. Shrink losses can be significant
for stressed calves. Calves lose an estimated 1%
of their body weight per hour in the first three
to four hours after a major stressor has been
induced such as weaning, hauling, a sudden
change in environment, and marketing. This first
phase of shrink is largely due to the loss of urine
and decrease in body fill. A shrink rate of 0.25%
per hour is usually seen in the following eight
to ten hours, and calves begin to lose fluid from
body tissue, making them more prone to illness.
A mple supply of a quality water source
Providing access to an adequate supply of
clean, cool water is important to help maintain
the internal temperature of cattle within the
normal range. In the warmest months of the
year, mature cattle can consume up to 2 gallons
of water per 100 pounds of body weight! That is
between 25 to 30 gallons of water per head per
day needed for the majority of our beef cattle in
the Southeast. A yearling calf can drink as much
as 15 gallons of water per day to avoid a loss in
productivity. Careful monitoring of water sources
is critical during these months to ensure an
ample, algae-free supply for the beef cattle herd.
Table 1. Maximum recommended number of cattle † to load by trailer dimensions.
Trailer size, feet
Average cattle weight under, lbs.
Length Width 400 500 600
16 6 18 15 12
18 6 21 17 14
20 6 23 18 15
24 6 28 22 18
20 7 27 22 18
24 7 32 26 22
32 7 43 34 29
Reduce trailer stocking density by 5% for cattle with horns; reduce load by 5 to 10% during hot conditions.
Adapted from NCBA, 2007. Stock Trailer Transportation of Cattle.
†
94 | JUNE/JULY 2019