When it comes to transporting Oklahoma show steers, there are several important considerations to keep in mind. The first is the animal's health and mobility. It is essential to make sure the trailer is in good working order, with brakes, lights, and turn signals that are all functioning properly. Additionally, the trailer should have the right suspension and anti-roll bars, and drivers should use good driving techniques such as slow starts and stops and easy turns.
Horses should also be trained to load, ride, and unload well in advance of the trip. To reduce stress, it is a good idea to transport animals with a companion. Cattle are social creatures and prefer to be with other animals. During long trips, hay and water should be provided at regular rest stops, but grain should not be fed. It is also important to do everything possible to reduce the physical and mental stress of the animal being transported. A study conducted by Stockman et al.
found that plasma cortisol response to transport was greater during the first trip than when the same Angus steers had made repeated trips (nine trips of 1.5 hours over 15 days). This suggests that the steers may have become accustomed to transport over time. In the study, steers from the transport group were transported for 13 hours in test 1 and 46 hours in test 2, while the rest of the steers were not transported.
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