Advice on buying a new box trailer - can it transport livestock?

4 posts
Wed, 12/30/2015 - 23:01 #1

Member for

9 years 4 months
Black Locust
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 08/23/2015 - 18:58

Advice on buying a new box trailer - can it transport livestock?

Hi all,

 

I'm about to buy a new box trailer that will be a big help for me on the farm, but I want to make sure that it's perfectly possible to use it for hauling materials as well as transporting livestock like sheep when necessary. I'm presuming that it's perfectly fine to transport sheep in a box trailer (say 8x5) that has a tall cage on it, like a 100cm cage (which is in addition to the 30cm box sides), right? 

 

I know that a small stock crate trailer would be ideal, but it's not a legal requirement, is it? Plus, I can't see how the basic structure is any different to a box trailer with a tall cage, especially if you put a covering over the cage.

 

I can't really find anything explicit about this on the net, so I'd like to know what other people have done. I've heard of people overseas transporting sheep and goats withing their actual cars. A box trailer with cage should be fine, eh?

 

Kind regards,

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Farming Help
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Thu, 12/31/2015 - 10:13 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi,

I don't believe that it would be illegal to transport stock using a box trailer. However, from my experience transporting small livestock in a trailer, you would be better off buying a tandem trailer (4 wheels). Four wheels give you a lot more stability because livestock move around a lot when being transported. I usually put a thick layer of straw on the floor of the trailer also. Livestock often urinate while travelling and can be injured because if the floor of the trailer is checker plate or rubber, it will become very slippery.

 

Another consideration is that the cage should have a roof as stock can jump quite high if frightened by passing traffic- sheep can jump up in the air like a cork out of a bottle. Regarding the height of the cage, if you ever intend to transport calves or alpacca at a later date, you might want to make it 30 cm or so higher than 100cm.

 

Hope this helps.

 

cheers and wishing you and yours a great New Year,

Barb

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Thu, 12/31/2015 - 15:16 #3
Black Locust
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 08/23/2015 - 18:58

Thanks heaps for this, Barb. You're a real help as usual!

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Thu, 12/31/2015 - 16:39 #4
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi,

no problems and thanks, it is great to be appreciated.

Cheers,

Barb

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