Cows in a horse trailer?

[Eddievalleytrailer]

I am in the market for a small livestock trailer. I will be hauling a couple of cows every now and then. I see lots of 2 horse trailers within my budget...but I don't have a horse, only cows. The livestock trailers are usually bigger than I need and more expensive. Can I haul cows in a horse trailer? Some people say "NO WAY!!! Are you crazy?!?!" But they can never tell me why.

 

[jcummins]

Back in the day....we hauled horses in a cow trailer.

 

[rustyshakelford]

Getting a cow to load in a small two horse side by side trailer would be very hard. They generally aren't tame anywhere near that of a horse. Also, cows are much wider and those trailers tend to be pretty narrow. You might be able to load a show heffer in one but besides that it would be dicey. I'd look for a 16' bumper pull. Might need to replace some boards or tires but they can be had for a decent price

Brett

 

[Shaneard]

Get the 2 horse trailer and cut the center out of it that way they can turn around, cows generally like to go forward.

 

[aczlan]

As long as you can open it up (or if its a 16+ foot one, split it front and rear) it should be fine.

Aaron Z

 

[coolreinfarm]

I've hauled horses in a livestock trailer and cows, hogs, sheep, if it walks I put it in the trailer. For years I hauled cows in a pickup with racks, thought we were in heaven when the trailer came.

 

[lucky llama]

I've done it plenty of times. I just remove the center divider.

 

[KYErik]

Yes- I have hauled a few cows in a small bumper pull horse trailer with the center divider removed- but just one at a time.

 

[MossRoad]

We have a friend that raises beef and his daughter showed horses in high school. He has a trailer very similar to this. He's been taking cows, two at a time, to the butcher every spring for about 10 years. Hauls the horses to shows. Took a couple pigs in this year. Cleans it out and moves stuff for people when they need furniture moved, move to new house, etc... its a really useful type of trailer.

 

[SandburRanch]

Cattle may be a little difficult to load because of the trailer being short and the front being closed in. Cattle, as with most animals, don't like to go where they can't see into the future. Anticipate loading in advance and feed cubes in the trailer front a few days and it usually solves the loading problem.

 

[MF283]

You could probably get by with a 12' stock trailer & haul anything you want.

 

[rmk700]

I haul cows in my horse trailer all the time. I did take my divider and saddle holders out.

 

[EddieWalker]

I'm always learning something new here!!!!

 

[WM75Guy]

Our horses would refuse to ride in the horse trailer if they knew a cow had been in there. :laughing:

 

[two_bit_score]

I am in the market for a small livestock trailer. I will be hauling a couple of cows every now and then. I see lots of 2 horse trailers within my budget...but I don't have a horse, only cows. The livestock trailers are usually bigger than I need and more expensive. Can I haul cows in a horse trailer? Some people say "NO WAY!!! Are you crazy?!?!" But they can never tell me why.

Do you have a horse or plan to get one or more? Or is it just the price?

You should be able to find a used stock trailer that would do both jobs for a decent price.

 

[cat fever]

We have a friend that raises beef and his daughter showed horses in high school. He has a trailer very similar to this. He's been taking cows, two at a time, to the butcher every spring for about 10 years. Hauls the horses to shows. Took a couple pigs in this year. Cleans it out and moves stuff for people when they need furniture moved, move to new house, etc... its a really useful type of trailer.

View attachment 498367

In Idaho that would also be considerd an enclosed snowmobile trailer. :laughing:
Sorry, couldn't help it.

We have had a tough time getting cows into a two place horse trailer. But if they are hungry---it helps.

 

[olPete]

I welded up a couple of hinges on the one we borrow to act as a 'forcing gate' for want of a better term. Just to help me load them up easier. It's basically a single pole that swings from a side, and stretched that electric fencing tape above and below the pole for a bit of extra visibility. Only problem was the cows usually tried to go around it and not up the ramp, hopefully the wing helps, I haven't used it since the modification.