TIPS FOR HANDLING CALVES DURING TRANSPORT

Authors: Eicher, Susan

Submitted to: Dairy Herd Management
Publication Type: Trade Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/14/2001
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Unloading and loading causes the greatest amount of stress on young calves during transport, says Susan Eicher, scientist with the USDA's Livestock Behavior Research Unit in West Lafayette, Indiana. To complicate matters, calves have difficulty navigating ramps and inclines. Plus, they don't exhibit a natural tendency to herd, like heifers and cows, Eicher notes. To ease these challenges, use loading ramps with an incline of no more than 4 percent to help the calf maintain its balance. Or, consider using a calf cart or sling to load and unload calves.