The day of the goat show has arrived. You buckle your goat in the passenger seat beside you and away you go, just like a Mickey Mouse cartoon…
Too bad that’s not reality!
In real life you will need specially-designed goat transport supplies as a means of transporting your goat to their big show. This guide will give show you some of the ways you can transport your goat.
Goat Handling Equipment
To ensure that your goat gets from point A to point B without getting hurt or dirty you will want to have some equipment ready for when you transport them.
Dirt likes to find its way onto goats and goats seem to seek out ways to get hurt, especially right before a show! When you have a few things on hand you can help reduce the risk of your goat getting injured or dirty:
Goat blanket. A good item to have on hand that helps keep your goat clean and reduces the risk of injury is a goat blanket. By having your goat covered you eliminate the area that dirt can get on and you also protect their skin and hair from scratches.
One of the good options on the market is the Weaver Leather ProCool Goat Blanket which comes in different sizes, making it easy to find the right one for your goat. Depending on the size your goat needs, the price ranges from $39 to $50.
Leg wraps. Another item you will want to have on hand are leg wraps. These handy pieces of apparel do so much for your goat. Not only do they keep dirt off of your goat’s legs, they also prevent leg injuries while you are transporting them.
A good set that you can buy is the Weaver Leather 4 Pack Goat Leg Wraps. They cost $40 and can save you even more by preventing avoidable vet visits.
If you don’t know how to put goat leg wraps on you can watch the Goat Leg Wrap Instructions by Weaver Leather Livestock.
Goat halter. An obvious item that you will not want to overlook is a goat halter. This will be required for your goat show as well as when you are transporting your goat.
You may even want two different ones, one to transport and then your one for the show, so your show halter doesn’t get scuffed up.
The $6 Sullivan Supply Goat Halter may be just what you need for your transporting needs.
Then you can buy something like the $23 Sullivan Supply Goat Show Halter for your show.
Goat Transport Crate
An easy way to transport your goat could very well be in a crate.
If you have a car with room in the back for a crate to fit in, a crate could be an excellent option. You will just need to make sure that the crate gives your goat enough room to travel comfortably in. This may not work for some of your larger goat breeds, but is worth taking a look at.
It is worth taking a look at a large dog crate for your goat if you decide to crate your goat during transport. Something like the 48” New World Dog Crate could fit a wide range of goat sizes. This crate typically retails at $70 and is much cheaper than other options. You can also look for used ones around you if you want to save even more.
Goat Transport Trailer
There are trailers made specifically for goats and may well be worth looking into if you are going to get super serious about goat farming. You could also go with trailers meant for larger animals since the only difference is the bigger size.
Either trailer option could work very well for your goats and all comes down to what you find in your area, unless you want one shipped to you, that is for sale along with your preferences.
One of the trailers that is made specifically for goats is the Sundowner Mini Livestock Trailer. This little trailer only weighs 900 pounds, so pretty much anything with a hitch can tow it. The Sundowner Trailer’s Mini Stock Walkthrough video by Sundowner Trailers, Inc. gives you a good look at this neat little trailer. To find the price though you will need to Contact Sundowner for a quote.
Another goat specific option is the 8413 Custom Featherlite Goat Trailer. This is a gooseneck option and weighs more, but also has a larger goat capacity along with individual pens for each goat you put in. The 8413 Custom Goat Trailer video by Featherlite Trailers gives you a great look at this neat trailer. To find out the price you will need to Contact Featherlite for a quote.
If you want to get a trailer with living quarters you may need to have one of these companies customize a trailer for you, which could end up costing a lot more. So, it may be best to go with a standard sized livestock trailer with living quarters if you really want living quarters in your trailer. Featherlite has many options when it comes to trailers with living quarters. One of the options you could use for your goat trailer is the 9821 Living Quarters Featherlite Trailer. There is a good 9821 Living Quarters Featherlite Walkthrough video by Featherlite Trailers. To get a price on this trailer, or one of Featherlite’s similar trailers you will need to Contact Featherlite for a quote.
You can also buy a used normal sized livestock trailer near you. Doing this can save you a good deal of money. There are dealerships that you can buy from or you can buy straight from the seller. Just make sure that you check the tires, the floorboards, the lights, and anything else you need to before you buy a used one so that you make sure everything works.
If you are feeling really creative you can make your own goat trailer. This can potentially save you a lot of money and allow for you own creative liscence. Wheeler’s Way has a Macgyvered GoatTrailer DIY video that you can use as a guide for making your own goat trailer.
Livestock Truck Box
If you want to get the one of the best fuel-efficient options a livestock truck box is a good one to think about. These handy boxes slide into the back of your truck where you secure them and then you place your goats inside. They don’t have as much capacity as a trailer, but they do offer their own set of perks.
Cimarron makes a good livestock truck box. This little box has a partition down the middle so that you can separate your goats if you need to. There is a Cimarron Stock Box Demonstration video by theCimarronWay that shows you this neat truck box. To get the price you will need to Contact Cimarron for a quote.
Featherlite also makes livestock truck boxes. Their 8191 Livestock Truck Box is similar to the Cimarron livestock truck box, but it does not have the partition down the middle. Without the partition you will have more space in the box, but you won’t be able to separate your goats if they needed to be separated. You can Contact Featherlite for a quote.
If you want to save money and you have the time, you should look at making your own livestock truck box. When you make one you can also customize it to whatever your needs are. Thunder Ridge Homestead has a great Livestock Truck Box DIY video that you can use as a guide as you make your own.
Goat Transporting Tips
Depending on the length and duration of your trip you will need to have some plans in place when you transport your goats. Here are some helpful tips that can make transporting your goat much easier.
Wrapping Up
Transporting your goat does not need to be hard. Having the right things in place can make it an easy thing for them and for you.
By looking at all the options you can determine what will be best for your situation. With the right preparation, going to goat shows may become almost as easy as hopping in the car and buckling your goat up in the passenger seat right next to you!
