There is one constant in the livestock industry: If you have animals, you will have to build a fence. Fencing is a barrier to keeping your animals where you want them and keeping predators out.
It has been said that good fences make good neighbors, and that is undoubtedly true. As a responsible animal caretaker, it is your responsibility to keep them out of your neighbor’s place as well as get out on the road and cause an accident.
When it comes to fencing, there are many options, and that can be confusing to someone who doesn’t have much experience with it. Now, which is the best to go with? Well, that is up to the individual, but here are some things for you to consider the next time you are shopping for a new fence.
Planning your fencing project
The first step in any project is to plan out exactly how you will do it, and fencing is no different. It would be best to plan out where the fence will be going and how much of it is needed.
During this stage, you will determine all of the materials that you will need. An important thing to remember is that if the job is rather large, it may be a good idea to purchase a little more than the bare necessities to finish it. It never fails that you may be off on your calculations or that something will get damaged along the way.
At this stage, you will also be selecting the type of fencing that you will install. The type of animals you will be keeping, and your total budget will play a factor in your decision.
Some of the common types of fencing that you will find are:
- Barbed wire
- Woven field fence
- Rail
- Electric
Once you have the area selected, you will want to prepare the site before you put any fence in. This preparation will mean taking a dozer or skid steer and clearing out all the trees and brush from the area. You will also want to make the area as level as possible to make installation easier.
Select the right corners.
A fence is only as strong as its corner posts. A common problem that many people need help with is selecting the right size of post to use for the corners.
The size of the post you will use depends on the number of wires you will be installing.
The depth at which you bury the post will also play a role in how strong the fence will be. The hole you dig should be as
Example of an H-brace
deep as the height of the top wire. This ratio means that for a fence shorter than 42″, you should use a post that is 8 ft in total length.
When it comes to bracing the corner posts, there are generally 2 types to use: a floating diagonal or an H-brace. Both of these types have pros and cons, as well as requirements, to consider.
A floating diagonal is suitable for up to 5 wires, and the H-brace is ideal for up to 8 wires. Now, the H-brace will be more sturdy, but the floating diagonal will only require two posts instead of 3 for the other one.
Types of fence
The type of fencing you want to use will depend on the type of livestock you want to keep.
Barbed wire
- This type is the most common type that you will see across most of the cow country simply because it can be cheaper.
- Depending on the landowner’s preference, it can require as few as three wires or as many as eight.
- This type typically works well for cattle because of their tougher hides
- Not really a good option for horses or any smaller animals that you may have
- Standard barbed wire fencing typically has posts that are 10ft to 12ft apart
- Depending on the number of strands being used, they can be spaced between 8″ to 10″
Woven field fence
- This type can work for any species but is usually preferred for both horses and smaller animals like goats and sheep.
- Woven wire fences consist of several horizontal lines of smooth wire held apart by vertical wires called stays.
- Spacing between the wires can vary depending on the type and use
- The height of the wire can vary from 26″ for smaller animals to over 48″ for taller animals
- There are many different combinations of wire size, spacing, and heights that you can choose from
Rail fences
- Rail fences are typically used for border fences around farm buildings or the home
- They are also more typically found at different types of horse farms where more expensive animals are kept
- There are many different options now that you can choose from for a rail fence
- wood
- PVC
- vinyl coated
- pipe
- You can choose many different heights, but people usually choose 4 to 5 feet for livestock.
Electric
- This type of fence is gaining in popularity because it is reasonably cheap to install and easy to move if you need
- Adding an electric wire to an already existing fence can help improve the fence’s effectiveness.
- Corners and end posts with electric fencing require less bracing than a more “permanent” type of fence.
- If you are using temporary 1 or 2 strands of either a smooth wire or tape or rope, it is good.
- The more permanent types can have from 2 to 8 smooth wires placed on stronger posts.
Fence Maintenance
Another thing to take into account when planning your fence project is what you are capable of doing maintenance-wise. Fences, like anything else in your place, will require upkeep. You will need to inspect the wires and posts for any possible breakage, sagging, and other damage. Also, choose one that will make keeping the fence line clear and weed-free easier.
So keep this in mind when you select the types of fencing products you will use. Look for fencing materials that you can maintain fairly easily, such as wire fencing, which suffers less damage from the elements than wood. Your pocketbook and your neighbors will thank you.
If you are looking for more information, your local county extension office could be a good place to start. The NRCS department of the USDA has a fence technical guide that will provide some valuable information. Red Brand also has a series of very informative blogs about various fencing questions.
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