ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines new transportation research and contains recommendations for transporting range cattle and finished cattle. It reviews experimental shipments of cattle using railcars equipped with feed and water and sufficient space for the cattle to lie down. Range cattle placed in "unfamiliar" pens shrink more than do cattle held in "familiar" pens. Shrink losses can be reduced by handling livestock with a minimum of excitement and noise. Wind whistling through a vehicle can chill cattle. The Livestock Conservation Institute has published recommendations for space requirements for different sizes of cattle. The experimental railcar was equipped with hay racks made from rubber tire strips. Cattle from a feedlot which allowed rough handling had twice as many bruises compared to those from feedlot that used gentle handling methods. Loading chutes should be equipped with telescoping side panels and self-aligning dock bumper. These devices will help prevent hoof and leg injuries caused by an animal stepping down between the truck and chute.
