Saturday, August 18, 2018

Common Effective Cattle Fencing Options

By Janet Murray


Fences are key elements in protecting livestock especially cows from predators and pest animals. They protect them from inadvertent human and car traffic. They also keep the cows away from crops and help them remain in their proper pastures. The major issue when it comes to cattle fencing is the strength of the fence to withstand the rubbing and pushing of the cows.

The fence you put up should be strong enough not to fall on the cows. With the different agricultural fences available in the market, you have a wide variety to choose from. A key thing to consider is the type of traffic near your livestock and the need to protect them from skidding vehicles and motorcycles.

Over a hundred years, barbed wire fencing remains the most common permanent fencing option for most livestock keepers. The basic concept of this classic fence has remained over the years. With a minimum of two strands, the fence is able to keep cows contained in the pasture area. However, cows tend to loosen the wires by exerting pressure on the strands. This increases its maintenance costs as the strands need to be tightened every now and then.

There is another type of fencing that is becoming more preferable than barbed wire. The high tensile wire has gained popularity since it cheaper and more manageable than barbed wire. It has lower installation costs and requires less maintenance. Another advantage it has is that it can be electrified making it more effective.

If you live in an area that is rocky or that has hard soil, it is quite difficult to set up posts that are required with the barbed and high tensile wire fence. A good option in such an area is the Russell fence. This fence does not need posts to be set up. It can easily be put up in hills and valleys. It, however, is time-consuming and requires a lot of labor and wood.

There are other types of fences that can be used temporarily for cattle. Temporary fences are needed to keep them concentrated in the grazing area. It is best applied in rotational grazing where cattle are left to graze in an area called a paddock for a period of time till they graze everything. They are later moved to another paddock with greener pastures.

In the case of rotational grazing, the best option to use is temporary electric fencing. This is a low-cost way of keeping the animals controlled in an area and it is also very effective and easy to install. The cattle get to learn to stay away from the fence with time. One strand can actually keep them away. But in the case of calves, you may need more strands.

Another fencing method is the use of visual barriers. This is not very common as it is still relatively new. It involves the use of alternating light and dark barriers. Cattle are reluctant to cross such a barrier. The barrier is placed in areas such as stream banks to hinder the livestock movement to the stream.




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