Anyone who has worked
cattle for any length of time can testify to the danger of loading cattle into a trailer. A lot of things can go wrong.
himself and frequently demonstrates proper and safe cattle handling techniques around the country. Gill is featured in a video, available on
YouTube.com, on how to load cattle into a stock trailer. He says the most important thing is not to force cattle during the load- ing process. “Cattle don’t like to jump up into a stock trailer,
particularly if it is enclosed. Forcing them against a trailer can cause them to turn around and face you. They often run back the way they came and that’s when people get hurt,” explains Gill. “I try to get cattle to circle around the loading pen
so they aren’t bunched up as they approach the trailer. That way, one or two of them get to the trailer ahead of the rest. Put a little pressure on the fi rst one and if it jumps into the trailer the rest will usually follow.” Gill says the best way to avoid problems when load-
ing cattle in a stock trailer is to lower the distance between the ground and the fl oor of the trailer. “Trailer fl oors seem to be getting higher, making
cattle jump up 18 inches to 2 feet, which is out of their comfort zone,” says Gill. He recommends either mak-
ing a ramp with dirt or digging shallow holes for the trailer’s wheels. “If you can make the jump a foot or less, you’ll have a lot fewer train wrecks and put less stress on your cattle.”
Five tips for safe loading Gill says taking time to get everything ready before
you start loading cattle will make things go smoother. Here are 5 recommendations: 1) Turn off your truck when loading. He says cattle sense the vibrations as they approach the trailer, which makes them reluctant to enter the trailer.
2) Be as quiet as possible. Shouting makes cattle turn and look at you rather than moving forward.
3) Make the trailer quiet also. Secure gates and pan- els so they rattle as little as possible. Wood trailer fl oors or rubber mats make less noise than bare aluminum fl oors.
4) Keep trailer fl oors clean so cattle don’t slip and slide when they enter.
5) Shiny aluminum fl oors tend to scare cattle; if nec- essary, throw a few shovels of dry dirt in the back of the trailer.
Keep corrals, chutes in good condition As ranchers age, their cattle handling facilities
often do as well. Corrals and loading chutes often need to be updated to prevent problems during loading. Make sure gates swing freely and latch easily. Loose
boards need to be nailed down they don’t snag cattle or people. Spread sand to improve footing and drainage. Pens that worked well when you could count on several friends or family members to help can create prob- lems for 1 or 2 people trying to load cattle. Other upgrades should include
making the bottom 2 feet of a load- ing chute solid to keep cattle legs within the chute. These days, por- table cattle panels make it easy and affordable to update your handling facilities. Perhaps the best way to make
your facility trailer-friendly is to add a Bud Box. Bud Williams, a
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