Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

2 in the shop today. 1 no start 1 in for a major. 1/2 hole advance got another 3ZJ

 

I agree! People or animals, a scared one will hurt you more than a mean one!

 

An enraged mean one is out to kill ya , scared yea they'll kill too but by accident.

 

Or, like my Grandfather used to say..."That bull ain't very big. He'll just kill you a little bit."

 

I always worried more about them high headed tiger striped bremer crosses. I have had one slip down the pens on opposite side of rail just to get my ###. Not a better cow on the planet as far as throwing em and raising em. God help ya workin em. I always hated hauling pairs. You gotta sort the calves off for the 2 nose cuts and the jail. If you got a 3/4 and gotta use it I always packed the #### out of em loaded the cows on top then dropped my 3/4. Poked em around in the jail till they got situated. Then loaded my bottom and tail. Sorting the calves off can give you indigestion no doubt. That American Foid group that used be Gibbon pack was bad to buy slaughter bulls. Old and stove up you still hadda watch. But young you best be ready he was there cause his attitude and he likes to fight you can bet on it. They liked the bulls kept separate of course and I’d usually put my bulls on the fat rail and front top nose if they were big. You shut a gate you have a hold of it or it will bite you. I had one in McCook Nebraska on a colder than a witches tit night kick that gate in the instant i latched it. Rung my bell I mean give me an appreciation for the power one them suckers has. It was just the vibration cause it was already shut. The next cut was just a bit tight but what I had to do. The front is always a hair more floor space. I run six up the ramp and close the door at top of the ramp. Grab my cut gate and it’s almost latched when the fight breaks out. Only place for me to go is behind cut gate with trailer to my back. They fight to the back and a big cross bred ######## turns around and smashes that gate against me, it hurt then I see that big ### Angus m’fer get his ### in the wide spot between the gate and trailer and he is back in up to get away from the problem. After just having that gate kicked it was fresh on my mind how powerful they are when extended so I get right up on his ###. He try’s but can’t then he starts forward. I’m zapping the problem and got him turned and headed right as the angus clears the end of that cut gate I separate and get behind the gate pushing it hard as I can. It latches but I can’t get the bottom pinned……for a minute. I just walked out and let everyone take a break. Some say I’m nuts for shutting myself in there with em. Well if that gate is shut there’s no escape they are that smart. You ever let one or a bunch doesn’t matter get past you you will regret it cause they will try harder each time till they do it again. Course that takes your out away. I guess it’s a pick your poison kinda deal. I been lucky never got hurt bad, what little I been bumped I could go on with.

 

See it's better in the shop already. All that is just a memory.... Wrench slip off don't hurt near as much...

Cut gates with latches? Our trailers were just 2 decks, so gated each level half and half usually. Always has a second gate to use if had to put a bull or new born calf up in the nose. Our gates were separate and made from 1 x 6 good hard oak. Never had one busted. Could position anywhere in the length.
Usually run with one end tied so could load front half; drag it across (in 8 inches of shavings and ####) then tie that end off to an upright.

Used a 6' piece of 5/8 grass rope with a loop plaited back in one end. Lash the bottom of the gate to a side post bring it up loop and tie top.

You had your gate pinned shut. I had got my front in, swung the gate around and kneeling and threading the 5/8 tie rope thru the gate and out around the upright, bringing the loop in and tucking the loose end thru to raise it up and repeat up top... When they came back on me.
In jamming the rope end thru the oak gate; to push out and get back to drape under and tie off, I punched my finger into a splintered place on the gate as they shifted back. Hard shoulder push against the gate to hold the cattle and equally hard jam with the finger, stuck a nice wad of oak splinters in under my fingernail. Load of Brangus calves, loading in Beresford. SD. Going to St Pete to airship on to Caracas.
Made it to Cabool, MO to get a doc to deaden, split the nail and get it out. Finger felt like it stuck out a foot and throbbed with every heartbeat.

 

You're an ol timer...fer sure. I'm sure you heard of zmo oil? It's the best thing ever for throbbing smashed fingers or splinters..I carry a little sample bottle in the truck just for the occasion.

 

Not by name, but Doc gave a sample bottle of something that worked similar. Used it up nearly on stings.

 

I’m not so sure about that. With cow trucking it could get colder than a well diggers ### for a minute especially this time a year in the Dakotas. But you’d get em on and get back in the heat for the ride. In my shop it’s just cold. Blue ### cold. Hard to get er done lol.

 

Look at something like the 2 barrel rig on link below. Some kind of an old slow turning attic fan tween it and a wall should spread. Make a rack from rebar to keep wood up off bottom and get a good draw. (If it don't have some provision in the kit)

Double Barrel Conversion Kit