Farm advice: Transporting cows
Little things can make a huge difference when it comes to transporting our cows
Travelling can be tiring, but I find it’s often the little things that make me feel better on a road trip or flight, like staying hydrated and having snacks on hand. It’s exactly the same when it comes to transporting our cows, whether they are travelling down the road to graze or on their final journey.
We know from speaking to many of you that you are doing a great job of assessing that your cows are fit for transport – with a body condition score of three or more and in good health.
At DairyNZ, we have a commitment that New Zealand will continue to be world leaders in animal care and our research and science has helped look at more ways we can support our cows to travel well.
Firstly, it’s ideal if you can dry off your cows before transporting them. This makes them less prone to going down during transport. But we understand this isn’t always possible.
If you can’t dry off your cows, one of the best things you can do is give them magnesium and calcium on the day they are to be transported.
We know many of you are aware of the benefits of feeding magnesium but calcium is equally important. Constant muscle movement during transport can use up the cow’s normal supply of calcium, especially if she is still lactating or being trucked a long way. Calcium deficiency can affect a cow’s muscles to the point where they are no longer able to contract properly, which increases the risk of them going down. To prevent this, it’s recommended each cow is given 100g of lime flour and 12–20g of magnesium as an oral drench. Double this amount if administering as slurry with hay.
I know this should go without saying but I’m never one to assume anything, so make sure your cows always have access to water until they are loaded. They’ll thank you for it, as they won’t get another chance until they arrive at their destination. You can also try and limit the length of the journey by ideally keeping wherever they are going as short a ride as possible.
It’s common knowledge that cows should be kept off green feed for at least four hours (but no longer than 12 hours) before transport to prevent effluent spilling onto roads, but it’s important to remember this doesn’t include hay or baleage. So make sure they have access to roughage right up until they are loaded.
If you have tall cows, let your transport company know in advance so that they can avoid back rubs by sending a suitably configured truck.
These things are the very least we can do to show our kindness and care to our cows. For more information about preparing your cows for transport, visit dairynz.co.nz/transporting-stock.
12 to 24 hours before travel:
- Ensure access to water at all times
- Stand-off green feed for at least four hours, but no more than 12 hours, and continue to feed hay/baleage
- Supplement calcium and magnesium
- Liaise with your transport company to send cows to a processing plant nearby
Transporter’s take on cull cows
A Canterbury transport operator wants to see the dairy sector improve the care of cull cows, just like it did for bobby calves.
E.D. Swain Ltd owner operator Eddie Swain has been transporting stock around the South Island for more than 30 years and says while some dairy farmers are doing a good job, others need to do better when it comes to cull cows.
"It’s like anything. Some dairy farmers are really good. We don’t have to worry about anything when we pick up their cows because they’re always in good condition and healthy. Then there are some who are doing an average job, and those at the other end of the scale who we have to watch like hawks. These last ones are who MPI needs to crack down on."
Eddie says the best way farmers can help truck drivers is by ensuring their cows are fit for transport.
He says it’s also a good idea to flag with your transporter when arranging pick-up if there are tall cows in the mob so they can make sure the truck has the right configuration to ensure their backs don’t rub.
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