• Trailers hauling livestock should have a non-slip floor (a rubber mat, or a wire panel that is securely held down by ample staples).
• Bedding should also be used. Avoid straw during summer. Damp shavings (about 2 inches deep) or wet sand (about 1 inch) deep can help absorb heat.
• Clean the trailer after each use to prevent injuries from slipping, and help prevent disease spread.
• Summer time temperatures and high humidity can be stressful. Haul in the early morning.
• Access the Livestock Trucking Guide by Dr. Temple Grandin from the National Institute for Animal Agriculture
• See the chart below from North Carolina State Climate Office - Heat Index for the real feel temperature for humidity and actual temperature and take these numbers into consideration when hauling.

Contact April Bowman, Stokes County Livestock Extension Agent at awbowman@ncsu.edu or at 336-593-8179 for more information.