Patent ID: 8550035

Claim:
A method of transporting livestock comprising the steps of: a. providing at least one shipping container separated into a livestock storage area and a feed storage area separated by a feed partition having a series of vertical spaced members, wherein the feed storage area provides a continuous opening within the shipping container including a substantially vertical sidewall space in the interior of the shipping container having at least one trough and a substantially horizontal overhead space in the interior of the shipping container, and wherein the vertical spaced members of the feed partition are spaced to provide livestock access to the at least one trough in the substantially vertical sidewall space from the livestock storage area; b. providing a horizontal catwalk within the shipping container in the substantially vertical sidewall space for accessing the substantially horizontal overhead space from within the container, wherein the horizontal catwalk is mounted with the series of vertical spaced members above the at least one trough; c. loading feed into the substantially horizontal overhead space of the feed storage area; d. loading livestock in the livestock storage area through a cargo gate; e. maintaining separation between the substantially horizontal overhead space of the feed storage area and livestock; f. periodically accessing the feed storage area from a personnel opening during transport; and g. periodically distributing feed from the substantially horizontal overhead space into the at least one trough.