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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 26, 2021 19:43:52 GMT
I thought you guys might like this one.  Photo taken from a moving vehicle at about 70mph. This subject is something I do know plenty about as I have spent hundreds of thousands of miles pulling the trailers and countless hours sorting, loading, and unloading the cattle. These are bulls in the belly of a double-deck Wilson trailer; nobody builds them as good as Wilson, not even close. When loaded, there is some over 50,000 lbs of cattle in any of these trailers you might see; more in the Western states as they don't restrict the gross weight quite so much. There are six compartments in a trailer, "top-nose" and "bottom-nose" (the section over the fifth-wheel), "top" and "belly" (the two long sections in the middle), "the jailhouse" (upper right rear beside the door), and "back"(over the rear wheels). There is usually a cut-gate in both the top and belly that splits each of these sections in half for a total of eight cuts. On better trailers, the floor of the top-nose can be folded away so that taller cattle can be loaded in the nose. If the number of cattle warrants, the left side of the jailhouse can be folded over to double it's size; however, this is to be avoided if at all possible; reason being, first, there must be a double-deck chute at both the origin and the destination; and, everything except the jailhouse and back must first be loaded; then, the trailer is relocated to the double-deck chute to load the top-back (jailhouse with the wall dropped); then the trailer is moved back to the normal chute to load the final cut in the bottom-back. Each time this maneuver is done, filthy coveralls and rubber boots must be removed before getting in the truck and then put back on to load the cattle. On most trailers, when you are not going to drop the jailhouse wall, the procedure for loading is bottom-nose and then top-nose both through the top; then, the jailhouse via the top; then the top; then the belly; and, finally, the back; and, hang a padlock in the latch so nobody can turn the load out where you don't want them turned out. Make sure to have good batteries in the hot-stick before you begin. |
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Post by kdcintx on Sept 26, 2021 19:50:08 GMT
Great photo and thanks for the explanation. I really like the bull's eye peeking through the hole.
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Post by hmca on Sept 27, 2021 0:02:20 GMT
Very interesting to read the stories accompanying your posts, Buckskin. I am trying to figure out how many bulls might be transported at one time......I keep rereading your post thinking I should be able to figure it out...but I can't.
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 27, 2021 2:02:32 GMT
Very interesting to read the stories accompanying your posts, Buckskin. I am trying to figure out how many bulls might be transported at one time......I keep rereading your post thinking I should be able to figure it out...but I can't. It all depends on how big the bulls are. In most states, legally, a double-decker tractor-trailer rig can haul a smidge over 50,000 lbs of payload; that's 100 500-pound calves. The majority of loads on the road will be "feeders" heading West to the feedlots, averaging 600-800 lbs apiece. At least in America, on average, bulls are quite a bit larger than they were fifty years ago. If the bulls average 1,700 lbs apiece, thirty bulls would be a load; space-wise, if you can dodge the scales, you could probably squeeze closer to 36 bulls of that size in the trailer, providing several are short enough to load the nose compartments without them scraping the hide off their backs. But then, it is not at all unreasonable to have a group of bulls that weigh quite a bit more; 2,600-2,800 lbs is no longer considered a huge bull; I have seen several Charolais that would weigh 3,600-3,800 lbs; the bigger they are, the fewer you can haul. Bulls are dangerous; bulls mixed with bulls they are unfamiliar with, in close confines such as a stockyards, are ten times as dangerous. A load of bulls strange to one another must first be penned together in a large pen to let them "fight it out"; elsewise, they will do their fighting in the alleys while you are trying to load them and tear the stockyards down. I have seen big bulls throw smaller bulls over gates. I don't care if it is your grandma's old pet bull that wouldn't hurt a soul, put him with a strange bull and there is going to be a fight. |
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Post by hmca on Sept 27, 2021 15:40:33 GMT
I'm so glad I asked, Buckskin. I find reading about your first-hand experience very interesting. While I've seen horses being transported I'm not sure if I've ever seen cattle. I just did a quick search and could only find one hauler with one truck and one driver in NJ. Thinking there could possibly be more. We do have a rodeo, although I've never been there. Have you ever taken rodeo pictures? |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 27, 2021 17:42:30 GMT
We do have a rodeo, although I've never been there. Have you ever taken rodeo pictures? Although I have never taken a rodeo picture, I, myself, in the flesh, have participated in numerous rodeos in my illustrious glory days --- within affordable driving distance of my home. I mostly was a calf-roper. Sadly, I don't know of a single photo of me, either in action, or just there. A calf roper must have a horse, saddle, ropes, and a truck and trailer to haul all of it; besides fending for himself, he must provide for feeding and housing said horse when on the road; if the truck or trailer breaks down, he has a horse that must be loaded on another truck and taken somewhere to be cared for until said truck/trailer is back on the road --- or sell the much-loved horse to a complete stranger at a huge loss --- in contrast, a bucking horse rider or bull rider only has to show up; everything else is provided; they could hitchhike and get there. Several years ago, a guy from Oklahoma, with four horses in tow, broke down on the Parkway near our home; I bought one horse (and she was a good one; an own daughter of Oklahoma Star); another guy bought two of the horses; a third guy bought the fourth horse and the trailer; and, the guy who towed it all in bought the broken down truck, put another engine in it, and sold it to another friend; we took the guy to the closest Greyhound bus station, 85-miles from here, and never saw nor heard from him again. I had an excellent horse that, if I did my part, she would perfectly do her's, facing the caught calf, keeping the rope tight, and immediately stepping up and giving slack once I had the calf tied. I am deadly poison with a catch-rope; I very seldom miss. I never did like Team Roping, although I have participated in several; Team Roping is just that, a "Team" of two people, giving each participant someone else to blame and get mad at when things don't go as planned; I always abhorred and avoided anything that mentioned "team"; "come join our team", "be a part of our team", I will be a lone wolf over that nonsense any day. |
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Post by hmca on Sept 28, 2021 0:41:40 GMT
You are one story after another, Buckskin. Thanks so much for sharing. That is too bad that you don't have any pictures from that time. I bet your "Little Buddy" likes hearing these stories.
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 28, 2021 1:18:51 GMT
You are one story after another, Buckskin. My wife often wishes I would hush. I could write a book (or series of books); but then, I would be in court for years for telling the truth. I often wish I could have afforded a decent camera, and all of the film and developing that goes along with it, and documented everything and everyone I have seen and done and seen done. The various kinds of work I have always been involved in have always had plenty of "characters" involved and I seem to have a knack for being around when a good story unfolds, trying to stay out of the line of fire when necessary. |
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Post by hmca on Sept 28, 2021 1:26:41 GMT
The various kinds of work I have always been involved in have always had plenty of "characters" involved ......I'm kind of getting the feeling that you are quite the character yourself  |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 28, 2021 4:43:34 GMT
This 379 Peterbilt with Studio Sleeper is handling the load with authority; I like everything except the mirrors; I much prefer the old style mirrors as you can see things so much better. Moving vehicle/cleaner windshield shots. US Hwy 68\KY Hwy 80 ; East and West of Russellville, Kentucky    |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 28, 2021 4:56:52 GMT
This truck is a thing of beauty to behold. US Hwy 68\KY Hwy 80 - Russellville Bypass - East Side  We split the center of town; the much shorter route; he took the long bypass and caught the light to pull back in front of us. US Hwy 68\KY Hwy 80 - Russellville Bypass - West Side   |
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Post by jackscrap on Sept 28, 2021 5:27:43 GMT
I'll be looking at trucks in a whole new light from now on, thanks BuckSkin. |
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Post by BuckSkin on Sept 28, 2021 6:03:00 GMT
I bought one horse (and she was a good one; an own daughter of Oklahoma Star); another guy bought two of the horses; a third guy bought the fourth horse and the trailer; and, the guy who towed it all in bought the broken down truck, put another engine in it, and sold it to another friend; we took the guy to the closest Greyhound bus station, 85-miles from here, and never saw nor heard from him again. As I was reading this, it just dawned on me; although I cannot speak for the unknown Oklahoman, I am the sole survivor of all parties mentioned in this scenario. |
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