Calf Transport Done Right: Investing in Welfare, Hydration and Gut Health While Minimizing Losses

News and Updates

2/27/2026

By: Dayane Da Silva, PhD, Ruminant Nutritionist, Form-A-Feed Inc.

Transporting young calves poses a high risk of dehydration and increased morbidity, particularly from digestive and respiratory diseases. It has been reported that 37% of calves in the western U.S. were dehydrated before transport, increasing to 56% when they reached their destination.¹ Calves less than 24 hours old were 5.29 times more likely to be dehydrated than day-olds.

Preweaned calf mortality in the U.S. is 5%, with morbidity at 33.8%.² Scours (32%) and respiratory (14.1%) issues are the leading causes of death and account for 50.9% and 28.1% of illness cases, respectively. To manage these outcomes, 73.8% of preweaned calves with diarrhea or respiratory disease are treated with antibiotics. While antibiotics help reduce mortality and morbidity, early-life health challenges still have long-term negative impacts on growth, feed efficiency and future milk production.

The affect of neglect incurs immediate health costs, complications, operational losses and mortality. Dehydrated calves are at higher risk of developing illnesses such as diarrhea, pneumonia or heat stress. Veterinary treatments and medications are costly. Sick or deceased calves result in financial loss; the investment in breeding, feeding and raising these calves can range from $400–$1,000 per calf. Morbidity drains energy and reduces performance. For example, for every day a 300 pound steer is sick, the immune system uses 2.2 pounds of glucose (4,000 Kcal) which is enough energy to synthesize 0.9 pounds of protein or three pounds of lean tissue.³

Three step guide for calf transport done right

Step 1: Pre-transport preparation and loading care

Health assessment - conduct a thorough health check to ensure calves are fit for travel
Hydration - administer electrolytes to calves before transport to reduce dehydration opportunity
Gut health - administer direct-fed microbials (DFMs) to prevent gut upsets and ensure continued feed intake
Loading - calves should be handled with care to reduce unnecessary animal stress

Step 2: Vehicle and on-the-road transport care

Space allocation - provide adequate space for the calves to lie down comfortably and avoid overcrowding; 100-150 pound calves should be stocked at a density of 2.2-2.6 animals per linear foot (assumption is a 7.7-foot wide trailer)
Comfortable bedding - use soft and absorbent bedding materials in the transport vehicle to prevent injuries
Climate control - ensure the vehicle is equipped with proper ventilation and temperature control to avoid heat stress or chilling. Adjust it based on weather conditions. The thermoneutral zone for young calves is between 59° and 79°F.
Hydration stops - plan stops for water and feeding about every four hours
Monitoring - assign trained staff to monitor calves during transit and check for signs of distress (e.g., excessive panting, lethargy)

Step 3: Post-transport care

Health check - immediately assess the calves upon arrival for any signs of stress or dehydration
Rehydration protocol - administer additional electrolytes and provide fresh water
Recovery environment - ensure the calves have a quiet, stress-free environment to recover from the journey

Investment in proper care when transporting calves

Preventive measures such as spending time on regular health checks and proactive treatments can be an additional expense. Ensuring calves arrive healthy and productive can represent a huge return on investment (ROI) compared to antibiotic treatments and performance losses.

Neglecting proper care of calves during transport poses both ethical concerns and financial risks. While risk management and proactive planning may involve some upfront costs, these are minimal compared to the long-term consequences of neglect.

References

¹Cramer et al. (2024 JDS 101: 2454-2464), ² USDA, 2021, ³ Sara Kvidera, 2023

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