How Many Animals Can Be Loaded on a Trailer?

The number of animals that can be humanely transported in a given trailer depends on several
factors.81 More space is required per animal during hot weather as compared to cold weather.
Unshorn sheep and horned or antlered livestock require more space than short haired or polled
animals. Ideally, animals should be similar in weights and accustomed to each other prior to
loading for transport.

Recommended trucking densities range from about 3.5 sq. ft. (winter or short drives) to 4 sq. ft.
(summer or long drives) for 200 lb. market pigs and 4.5 sq. ft. (winter or short drive) to 5 sq. ft.
for 250 lb. market pigs. Recommended trucking densities for shorn market lambs range from
about 2.1 sq. ft. to 3.2 sq. ft. for 60 to 120 lb. lambs respectively while recommendations for
unshorn lambs range from ~2.25 sq. ft. to 3.35 sq. ft. for 60 to 120 lb. lambs respectively.

Farmers should not over-crowd animals on a trailer. The below chart can help determine the
appropriate number of bovines that can be loaded in a given space.