The average dairy cow weighs about 1,200 pounds. So they literally almost weigh a ton.

Cattle transport is no joke, and it’s a job that happens every day across the country. And it’s one that needs to be done safely to make sure your happy cows stay happy cows.

4 Tips for Efficient Cattle Transport

A buffalo that rides around in a car? Not the example you want to use when you’re making sure you transport your cattle as effectively as possible.

Stick to some tried and moo methods. Er, tried and true.

1. Give It a Once Over, Then a Twice Over

You’re not transporting just anything. You’ve got precious cargo, no matter what type of livestock that you’re transporting.

Every vehicle that transports livestock must be maintained to load and transport animals without a hitch. Except you need to make sure the hitch is in perfect working order.

Ensure there aren’t any sharp edges or gaps which could cause injuries to the livestock.

Check your brakes, tires, lights, and wiring regularly on the vehicle you’re using to transport your cattle. Traction should also be put in place to ensure that animals don’t slip.

2. Don’t Overdo it

Take the weight of your livestock into account when loading them into your vehicle. Check the capacity of the truck that’s pulling the vehicle to make sure it can handle the load you’re about to put on it.

If you feel uneasy about driving the trailer, then it isn’t safe. Take a test drive with an unloaded trailer to get the hang of how it feels.

3. Lock and Load

Don’t just double check that the trailer’s gates and latches are closed properly. Triple check it. This is one of the most important things you can do to ensure safe travels.

When loading your cattle, check the area for anything that might distract or startle them when entering the vehicle. People, noise, random objects, or tall step-ups all might be a deterrent to getting your livestock into the trailer in a safe manner.

4. Get Going

When it comes to actually driving your trailer once it’s loaded, the name of the game is caution. Keep extra space between you and the drivers in front of you.

Take curves and turns as slow as possible, and if there are extreme weather conditions, avoid traveling at all. You can’t change what other drivers decide to do on the road, but you can be as cautious as possible about what they’re doing.

It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Australias Livestock Exporters are experts at exporting livestock and have transported 90,000 livestock worldwide. That means that they can export to you, and they can do it without the worry.

No Shortcuts

When it comes to cattle transport, taking your time could mean saving a life. If you need help, ask the experts.

Don’t procrastinate on all the safety measures you need to put in place to ensure safe transport. Get it done today, and you can your cattle will breathe easier.