** Do not need to ship calf anymore* TX-CA

update 10/16/12:Thank you everyone for your advice and thoughts - I did not end up with that one calf yet will use this helpful advice as i look this week even on some more sales in that area. Thank you!


I am looking into purchasing a show calf form Texas.... I live in California. Has anyone had any experience with shipping show cattle this far? Is it worth it with shipping cost and sickness? I am new to this concept so please help enlighten me LOL. Is there that great of a risk for sickness or shipping fever etc. All and any thoughts and opinions are greatly appreatiated. Also what is the going rate and average to ship a calf out of state? Southmayd Texas to Santa Rosa CA

Thanks in advance
Angie Ruffoni

Sickness shouldnt be a problem.  Any reputable seller should be sending you a calf that has had a full suite of vaccinations.

Is it worth it?  It would be for a really good one.  If you are looking for an avg calf, you can find those closer to home.

As far as cost, if you are buying a really good one you are better off coming and getting it yourself.  Not much routine traffic in that direction.

Chambero : I have been looking at sales and nothing has come along. I have bidded on over 10 calves and arent finding anything in particular around me.  ( As in 10 hour radius N. S.E.W.)
It is hard for me to pick go and pick up the calf myself due to lack of having someone that can drive the trailer. I can drive a trailer but the trek being about 27 hours it would be easier to pay someone to do it especially is they happen to be making a trip in the general direction. I will however look into picking up the calf myself.. yet sale is in the next two days so I am trying to quicky see if anything in feasible.

There arent that many show calves shipped west from Texas.  The only person I know of that routinely does it is either Kris Black or Mark Copus, but I doubt they'd mess with one not their own. 

A lot of bad things can happen to a steer while waiting to get shipped.  If you cant do it yourself, hire someone you know to go get him.

There is a chance there will be a trailer or 2 going to Cow Palace.  Several years ago, we used to take pens of cattle from Nebraska to Cali for their show and sale.  Bonhams may have something going that way too. 

Have you checked with breeders like Geist, Teixeira, and such about what they have, or may have coming in?

You may want to ck with Breeders World & CW Cattle sales. Most of the time they have PPL lined up that do transportation of livestock for a living. Some are listed on their sales pages.

We live in South Florida and there's not much our way as far as show cattle so we have shipped lots of cattle. We have had them shipped to Florida from South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska and several other states and I have never really had any major problems. Most of the time we use Lathrop Trucking and have never had a problem with them and they are very reasonable. Here is their web site,http://www.lathroptrucking.com

We have brought in many steers from all parts of Texas and Oklahoma to California. Working with breeders, they get the cattle ready for the trip.  We have never had a problem. I agree with all the ideas offered on finding a ride for you calf.  I would add, there are many breeders from Texas and California in Phoenix at Arizona Nationals in December. You should be able to find 2 rides for your calf that meet there.

My point is you dont want to buy a steer right now and leave him in Tx 2-3 months trying to find a ride when the winter shows start.  In my opinion, a steer worth having is worth a three day weekend and the fuel to go get him.

i agree with chambero, if hes a good one hes worth the trip, the calf that is in the stuckey sale is a pretty nice one (if he was 2 months older we would probley be after him), we shipped calves to texas from georgia and never had any bad health issues, granted we went and got them ourselves and not on a trailer being moved with dozens of other calves... i

Boneso Livestock has a sale coming up on  http://www.cwcattlesales.com/upcomingsales.html it is Oct. 24.  Unless they are still showing then you can flush that one.

Okay thank you all for your opinions and helpful guidance

did you end up with the steer? out of curiosity

Show Stopper 95: I was just going to post that,  no, i did not end up with the steer i was originally looking at. He was very cool, i wish i did get him...I am continuting to look at a couple more online sales in that area though. Thank you everyone for you help though I will keep in mind everything stated if i end up with these calves.