How many cattle on a truck is not a fixed number. In the EU it is worked out compartment by compartment from floor area, live weight, the condition of the animals and the journey ahead, and the reference figures sit in Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005. For a calf seller the question usually comes up in a more practical form: how many head make a load worth sending, and how should the lot be grouped so it fits the vehicle that comes to collect it.
Space allowances for calves under Regulation 1/2005
Annex I, Chapter VII of the regulation gives space allowances for cattle as square metres per animal against a reference weight. The rows that matter for calves and young stock are these:
| Category (reference weight) | Floor area per animal |
|---|---|
| Small calves, approx. 55 kg | 0.30 to 0.40 m² |
| Medium-sized calves, approx. 110 kg | 0.40 to 0.70 m² |
| Heavy calves, approx. 200 kg | 0.70 to 0.95 m² |
| Medium-sized cattle, approx. 325 kg | 0.95 to 1.30 m² |
The regulation itself says these figures may vary with the weight and size of the animals, their physical condition, the weather and the likely journey time. So the range is a working band, not a target to fill. Heat, a long route or an uneven group all push the allowance towards the top of the range, and every animal must be able to stand in its natural position.
Source: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, Annex I, Chapters I, V and VII, consolidated text on EUR-Lex, as of 16 October 2026. The European Commission proposed a revision of the EU animal transport rules in December 2023; until a new regulation applies, the 2005 figures remain the reference at loading.
How many cattle on a truck: working it out per compartment
Once you know the usable floor area of each deck, which comes from the vehicle approval, divide the area by the allowance for the weight class, round down, and you have the upper limit for that compartment. The driver, who holds a certificate of competence, still has the final word on the day.
Per 10 m² of floor, the same table reads as follows. This is plain arithmetic, not a loading plan for any vehicle:
- Calves of about 55 kg: roughly 25 to 33 head per 10 m²
- Calves of about 110 kg: roughly 14 to 25 head per 10 m²
- Calves of about 200 kg: roughly 10 to 14 head per 10 m²
- Young cattle of about 325 kg: roughly 7 to 10 head per 10 m²
Two things follow for a seller. Weight drives capacity far more than headcount: the same floor takes around three times as many young dairy calves as weaned stores. And a mixed pen loads at the pace of its heaviest animals. If light and heavy calves share a compartment, the allowance has to suit the bigger ones and space is wasted. Pens are normally split by size for that reason.
Matching our weight classes to the table
On the how we buy page we publish three indicative weight classes. Dairy calves of 52 to 90 kg sit between the small and medium calf rows of the regulation. Starter calves of 110 to 150 kg fall between the medium and heavy calf rows. Weaned or stocker calves of 220 to 350 kg, beef breeds only, move into the heavy calf and medium cattle rows. These ranges are a guide; the actual spec for each lot is agreed with the supplier before collection.
Age counts as much as weight. Under Chapter I of the same annex, calves younger than ten days are not considered fit for transport unless the journey is under 100 km. Under Chapter V, unweaned calves still on a milk diet must get a rest of at least one hour after nine hours of travel, with liquid and feed if needed, before they continue for up to nine more hours. That is one reason the age of each calf belongs in the first offer, together with the ear-tag numbers. Our supplier FAQ lists what else to include, and the breed guides show how dairy, beef and crossbred lots are usually described.
Why our minimum lots are 28 and 150 head
Euro Cieleta buys EXW: the calves are collected at your farm or collection point, and we organise the transport ourselves with our own trucks, run under Regulation 1/2005 with an authorised transporter, an approved vehicle and a certified driver. You do not need to find a lorry.
The minimum lot depends on the journey type. TYPE 1 covers transport up to eight hours’ drive, with a minimum of 28 head. TYPE 2 is long-distance transport with a trailer, with a minimum of 150 head. A long journey also needs a journey log, kept by the transporter. The supplier country pages cover the eleven countries we buy in and the papers usually needed in each.
If your numbers are below the minimum today, send the offer anyway with your expected monthly volume. Payment terms and the size of a trial lot are agreed individually with each supplier before the first loading. Every animal still needs ear tags, a passport and cover under the INTRA health certificate issued in TRACES NT by the official veterinarian. No loading takes place before the certificate is issued.
Preparing a lot so it loads well
- Group calves by weight and age before the truck arrives, so pens can be filled without re-sorting at the ramp.
- Check ear tags and passports against your offer list. One unreadable tag can hold up the load.
- Book the vet for the certificate in step with the collection time. That appointment is usually the tightest part of the day.
- Confirm the headcount and weight class in writing, so the vehicle that comes is sized for what is actually waiting in the shed.
- Set aside any calf that looks unfit; the driver will not load it.
Journey times and rest stops are covered in more depth in our piece on EU rules for moving calves by road, and route logistics in planning a calf collection across Europe.
Sending an offer with headcount and weights
The quickest route is the supplier form: country, breed, sex, calves per month, weight and age, the documents you have ready, and any notes about access to your yard. You can also call or WhatsApp +48 691 900 728, or write to biuro@eurocieleta.pl. For how cooperation works over repeat lots, see the page for calf suppliers.