The reason why manual forklifts cannot be used for transporting cattle (ground animal power) is mainly based on considerations of equipment design, operational safety, laws and regulations, and practical application scenarios, as follows:

1、 Equipment design mismatch

Differences in functional positioning

A manual forklift is an industrial equipment designed specifically for cargo handling, with its core function being to lift and transport goods over short distances through a hydraulic system. Its structure (such as forks, hydraulic cylinders, wheels) and power system (manual or electric) are optimized around the needs of cargo handling, rather than animal transportation.

Fork design: The fork of a manual forklift is a rigid structure that cannot adapt to the size and movement needs of cows. Forcefully fixing it may cause injury or struggle of cows, leading to accidents.

Load bearing method: Forklifts insert forks into pallets or the bottom of goods to carry them, while cows cannot be fixed on the forks and are prone to slipping or tipping during transportation.

Insufficient power and stability

Power limitation: The power source of manual forklifts is human labor or small electric systems, making it difficult to carry the weight of live animals (such as cows) for a long time (usually exceeding 1 ton) and maintain stable transportation.

Stability risk: Cattle may move, struggle, or excrete during transportation, causing the center of gravity of the forklift to shift and increasing the risk of overturning.

2、 Operational safety risks

View and control limitations

Blind spot in field of view: Forklift drivers' field of view is obstructed by forks and cargo, making it difficult to observe the state of the cow (such as whether it is standing or struggling), which can easily lead to collision or crushing accidents.

Handling complexity: Transporting live animals requires real-time adjustment of speed and direction, while forklift handling systems (such as handles and hydraulic valves) are designed for cargo handling, making it difficult to meet dynamic adjustment requirements.

Difficulties in emergency response

Emergency response: If the cow is frightened, struggling or injured during transportation, forklift drivers may find it difficult to quickly control the situation through existing equipment (such as forks, hydraulic systems), which may lead to the escalation of the accident.

3、 Prohibited by laws and regulations

Regulations on the Management of Special Equipment

According to the Special Equipment Safety Law of the People's Republic of China, forklifts are classified as special equipment and their use is strictly limited to cargo handling. They are prohibited from transporting live animals.

Consequences of Violation: If a forklift is used to transport cattle in violation of regulations, it may face administrative penalties (such as fines, suspension of business for rectification), and even civil or criminal liability (such as accidents causing casualties).

Animal Welfare Regulations

Transporting live animals must comply with the Animal Epidemic Prevention Law and the Livestock Law, requiring the use of specialized transportation vehicles (such as animal drawn carts and specialized trucks) and equipped with ventilation, anti-skid, and fixing facilities to ensure animal safety. Forklifts cannot meet these requirements.

4、 Not applicable in actual application scenarios

Poor environmental adaptability

Ground conditions: Forklifts are typically used on flat, hard surfaces such as warehouses and factories, while transporting cattle may involve muddy, rugged, or sloping environments where forklifts are prone to slipping or losing control.

Space limitation: The minimum turning radius of forklifts is relatively large (usually ≥ 2.5 meters), making it difficult to operate flexibly in narrow spaces such as cattle sheds and breeding farm passages.

Efficiency and Cost Issues

Low efficiency: Transporting cattle requires frequent adjustment of fork height and direction, and the speed is slow (usually ≤ 5km/h), far lower than the efficiency of specialized animal powered vehicles or trucks.

High cost: The purchase, maintenance, and operation costs of forklifts (such as hydraulic oil and tire wear) are much higher than traditional animal powered transportation tools (such as ox carts and tractors).

5、 Recommended alternative solutions

If transporting cattle, it is recommended to choose the following specialized tools:

Animal powered carts: such as ox carts and horse drawn carts, suitable for short distance, low-speed transportation, low cost, and in line with animal welfare requirements.

Specialized truck: a truck equipped with ventilation, anti-skid, and fixed facilities, suitable for medium to long-distance transportation, ensuring the safety and comfort of cattle.

Traction equipment: such as tractors or specialized tractors, can be used in conjunction with animal powered trailers to improve transportation efficiency and stability.

The main equipment produced by Hebei Makita: stage electric hoist, electric chian hoist, wire rope electric hoist，Hand chain hoist, lever hoist, pneumatic hoist and other lifting equipment