Table of Contents
Importance of fitness for transport
- Ensure survival of animal to the final destination
- Carcass quality for market cows
- Reduce long-term health issues and stress
- Ensure consumer safety
Do not transport ambulatory animals with:
Cancer eye or blindness in both eyes
Fever greater than 103F
Drug residues
Peritonitis
Bone fractures or lameness
(4 or 5 on a 5-point scale)
Unreduced prolapse
Cows calving or high likelihood calving during transport
Suspected nervous system symptoms
Visible open wounds
When transporting cows
- Milk all lactating dairy cows just before transporting to market
- Minimize the number of times cattle need to be handled during transport
- Do not transport animals with distended udders causing pain and ambulatory issues
When transporting calves
- Ensure proper colostrum consumption
- Proper identification
- Vaccinate
- Proper navel care
**Infographic adapted from the American Association of Bovine Practitioners
Author
Aerica Bjurstrom
Regional Dairy Educator – Aerica’s work focuses on herd health and animal welfare. She also has a strong background in meat quality and has done programming in market cow carcass quality.
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