Exhibiting a World Dairy Expo-caliber animal takes years of careful breeding, months of meticulous preparation and a deep understanding of what it takes to compete at the highest level. The same could be said of the professional truckers who are transporting the cattle across the country.
Truckers like Allyn (Spud) Paulson, Todd Searles and Ian Twa are doing more than getting cattle from point A to point B. They’re coordinating with their customers and teams, managing stress and monitoring health for dozens of animals for as many as three full days on the road. Yet their years of experience and careful attention to detail have turned a monumental task into a familiar routine that ensures elite cattle arrive in Madison ready to make the most of the opportunities ahead.
Careful Preparation
For close to two decades, Twa has made the 24-hour trip from different locations in Canada, at times with a supreme champion in tow. “It’s a once-a-year deal that you just start getting yourself keyed up for by the first of September. You just get ready and do it,” he says.
Paulson brings between 80 and 100 cattle to Madison each year, from California, New York and a few places in between.
“When I make a long trip, the first thing I do is make sure the truck is serviced. Knock on wood, my mechanic helps us get ahead of any potential breakdowns before we hit the road,” he says.
Searles has also completed his share of cross-country trips, and he has a list of must-have items in the trailer for the long treks.
“I always have 130' of hose, a generator and a vacuum pump — just like they use at the shows,” Searles says. “The only thing I need to get to is water, at a hydrant or something. Everything else is contained in the trailer.”
Many truckers agree some cows simply handle the long treks better than others, but Paulson says it always helps to work with animals that have had Nasalgen and the shipping fever shot prior to the trip.
“It’s amazing the difference in how they look when they come off,” he says. “We as truckers can only get them in the wind, get them there as quick and safe as we can with hay and water in front of them. That’s still stressful on some animals, while some take it like a champ.”
Long-Distance Travel
A trip from California to Wisconsin with a trailer full of cattle is a full, three-day journey. Searles stresses the importance of keeping animals on their routine throughout the trip. He says that’s one key to keeping them healthy and looking their best upon arrival.
“If they’re feeding them four times a day, you stop and feed them four times a day and keep them on the same schedule,” Searles says. “They want to eat at the same time, get milked at the same time, so that’s just what you do when you’re on the road with them. You keep them on the same schedule that they were at home.”
On overnight trips, Searles says the best places to stop are sale barns, truck stops and places like the stockyards in Cheyenne, Wyo.
“I try to find a quiet place without a lot of ruckus, and then the cows will all lay down and rest peacefully,” he explains. “I like to try to stop for three to four hours so that everything stops moving, it’s quiet and then they’ll all lay down and rest.”
Across The Border
According to Twa, getting cattle through customs is not as bad as it sounds — as long as you’re prepared ahead of time.
“The vet likes to know three to four weeks in advance when we’re coming through, and our person in our office makes sure all the paperwork is there at least two days before,” he explains. “I’ve seen it come down to the day before, and they don’t like that.”
The vet at the border checks the tags and the tattoo in their ear verifying the cattle are from Canada.
“It’s actually not that bad. The stress only starts when there’s a hiccup,” Twa says. “I got to the border once, and one of the cows wasn’t on the health papers. I had to turn around, take her back to a farm in Canada, then come back again.”
Of the border crossings in Michigan and New York, many Canadian truckers prefer to cross through New York, even if it adds time to the trip.
“The cows seem to ride better going across 90 than down through Michigan,” Twa says. “I just like the way they look when they come off the trailer, a little bit better and not as tired looking. Nobody can explain it, but we just go with the program that works.”
What You Can’t Control
While each trucker carefully plans what they can, there are many factors beyond their control. They simply have to be prepared for changes in the weather, traffic, possible calving and running on low sleep. Especially in October, and spanning so much of the U.S., the truckers are ready to adapt to the weather.
“If it’s cold, you close up the trailer so they don’t get so much cold air on them. If it’s hot, keep moving.” Searles says. “But you’re always alert to traffic around you and weather conditions, especially coming through the mountains. One of the biggest concerns is traffic and other drivers. If there’s an accident or construction, you don’t want to have to slam on the brakes.”
Paulson agrees.
“Every year is different. You know, when you take off and get down the road it’s tough to keep a schedule, because there are so many variables with weather and traffic. When you stop to pick up a heifer, it’s crazy how it can just add an hour no matter what,” he says.
The Destination
At the end of the day, Searles says you just want to do the best you can: Get them there safely and in good order. And after a long journey, or even a short trek, Paulson says there’s nothing like the adrenaline of hitting the gate at the Alliant Energy Center.
Yet, for most truckers, only a small part of the trip is done. After arrival, they shift gears to exhibitors, judges, fitters or spectators, before turning around and doing it all again.
“I just like the show and seeing everybody,” Twa says. “You get to see the best of the best, and it’s a big social event to me.”
