Nita Harding, DairyNZ’s team leader animal husbandry, says more and more cows are being transported, mainly because farmers winter some or all of their herds off-farm.
Farmers must think about how they will transport their cows, she says. “They are a valuable asset and they need to make sure the cows being sent are fit and are well prepared for their journey.
“For a start cows need magnesium supplementation for a few days before and afterwards. [And we encourage] farmers to stand their stock off green feed for four-twelve hours before they’re transported. Make sure they get dry feed such as hay and provide water during that time. This is designed to help the cows empty out a bit, reduces effluent on the truck and therefore on the road and the cows are more comfortable traveling.”
Harding says cows should be carefully examined by farmers before they are declared fit to be transported.
Cows should be fit and strong, able to bear weight on all four legs. “That means any wounds should be healed, no mastitis and free from pink eye, and eye and nose discharges. If in doubt, the animals should be examined by a veterinarian and a certificate provided.
“Cows must not be transported if they are likely to give birth during the journey. Travel for cows in the last three months of pregnancy needs to be carefully planned with travel times as short as possible and adequate rest periods planned if longer travel times are planned.”
Harding says cows with a BCS of 3.0 can be transported, but those below this need remedial care before being shipped.
“I think most farmers are aware that transport is dreadful for stock but sometimes in the heat of getting organised they might not prepare stock in the way they should do.
“Also the transport companies need to think about the care they need to give stock during their journey. They need to make sure if it’s a long journey that they have plans in place to rest the animals appropriately. It’s a matter of farmers and transport companies getting together to devise a journey plan which meets the needs of the animals.”
The recipient of the animals at the other end also needs to be aware of the needs of the cows and to be in the loop of the transport plan with the farmers and transport company.
