A cattle trailer is the easiest and most efficient way to transport your cattle, as well as other livestock, whenever they need to be moved from one location to another. Whether you are taking your cattle to be shown at the local county fair or are moving them from their old home to a new farm across the country, a cattle trailer is the most realistic way to transport your animals.
Cattle trailers are available in a number of sizes and a variety of different styles, depending on the amount of cattle you will be transporting and your preferences regarding design. Bumper pull cattle trailers (also referred to as livestock trailers, or simply stock trailers) are the simplest style of trailer available. The shape of these trailers resembles a box, with straight vertical front, side, and rear panels, and they are quickly and easily hitched on to the back of a truck or other tow vehicle.
Gooseneck stock trailers are very similar in design to bumper pull trailers, but the front of the trailer features an upper compartment that extends over the truck bed of the towing vehicle. This design offers increased stability and strength over the bumper pull model.
Your livestock towing needs will dictate the size of livestock trailer you should purchase. Sizes range from small trailers that will comfortably hold two large livestock animals such as cattle, all the way up to livestock semi-trailers. The design of a semi-trailer resembles that of a semi-truck, but the trailer itself has been modified to accommodate the transportation requirements of animals.
Cattle trailers are typically made out of metal, due to the strength and support offered by this material, however, there are a number of different kinds that are used. Traditionally, steel was the most popular metal used for stock trailers, although it was quite heavy and required a very powerful vehicle to pull the trailers, especially when they were filed with cattle and other livestock.
More recently, however, cattle trailers have been increasingly manufactured from aluminum, a metal that offers a much lighter alternative to the traditional steel trailers. The lighter weight of aluminum trailers will also help you to save in fuel costs.
The final thing you will want to take into consideration when researching and purchasing a cattle trailer is the features you want the trailer to have. Upper windows, which are usually just larger openings in the metal, are pretty standard among trailers, and they provide an excellent way to keep air flowing through the trailer which will keep your animals cool.
Additionally, the windows allow the livestock to see through to the outside, which helps to keep them calm. You will want to make sure the stock trailer you purchase has a ramp, usually located in the rear of the trailer; without one, it can be difficult to get your livestock into the trailer for transport.
Cattle trailers are easily purchase online at a variety of farm equipment retailers. There are also websites specifically devoted to the sale of cattle trailers; a quick Internet search will assist you in finding one. You may want to consider purchasing a used cattle trailer, as most will be in good condition but cost considerably less than a new one.