46 NEBRASKA CATTLEMAN April/May 2026 PEERS SAFE TRAVELS FOR NEBRASKA CATTLE LINDSAY WAECHTER-MEAD, DVM, MS | NEBRASKA EXTENSION LIVESTOCK EDUCATOR AND DIRECTOR, NEBRASKA BEEF QUALITY ASSURANCE Nebraska producers know the feeling of watching healthy cattle step off a trailer ready for the next stage of production, and safe transport is part of keeping cattle healthy and productive. Cattle need to arrive safely, calmly and in good condition. Paying attention to a few core transportation principles helps make that happen on every haul. FIT FOR TRANSPORT Before loading any animal, take a moment to evaluate whether it is physically able to handle the stress of a trip. Beef Quality Assurance Fitness for Transport guidelines rely on animal body condition, mobility scoring and health status to determine if the animal can take the trip. Body condition scoring uses a 1 to 9 scale to estimate the amount of fat an animal carries, with 1 being severely emaciated and 9 morbidly obese. Cattle scoring 1 or 2 should not be hauled because they lack the energy reserves needed to cope with transport. Mobility scoring uses a 1-to-4 scale to evaluate lameness. • Score 1 animals walk normally. • Score 2 animals show a slight limp but keep up. • Score 3 animals have an obvious limp and fall behind. • Score 4 animals are unwilling to move and should never be transported. Mobility scores 1 and 2 are fit for transport. Score of 3 needs special considerations such as last animal on the trailer and first off. This animal should be placed in its own compartment of the trailer with bedding available. LOAD DENSITY Knowing how many cattle your trailer can safely haul is an important part of planning any trip. Overcrowding increases the risk of animals going down or being injured. Load density depends on the weight of the cattle and the square footage of each compartment. BQA Transportation (BQAT) provides tables that help determine appropriate stocking rates for your trailer. LOW-STRESS HANDLING Transport is one of the most stressful events in a calf’s life, especially for young animals making their first trip. Calm, low stress handling reduces the risk of injury and sickness and helps cattle settle more quickly once they arrive. Move cattle quietly and consistently, using their natural flight zone and point of balance. Avoid yelling or rushing. Early handling experiences shape how calves respond to people for the rest of their lives. Taking a little extra time to load them properly pays off in future interactions and reduces stress during subsequent interactions. PLANNING FOR EMERGENCIES Having an emergency plan that is easily accessible will help to keep livestock and humans safe. Write down important information, including your veterinarian and ranch management and insurance agents, and store that information inside the truck or glovebox. If an accident occurs, immediately dial 911 to report CONTINUED ON PAGE 50
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