What You Need to Know about Cattle Fencing 
Farm fences are needed for a variety of reasons, including keeping livestock in, and unwanted predators out, dividing pastures and offering security. The fencing erected is dependent upon the type of farming being undertaken as cattle fencing cannot be the same as poultry fencing. Whether you consider yourself an experienced hand at fencing or are a beginner, some common mistakes and oversights can be avoided. Knowing the essentials of cattle fencing and pre-empting any possible problems could save you time and money in the long run.
Sifting through the common mistakes and understanding the basics of cattle fencing have afforded Chemvet Steel & Fencing the opportunity of manufacturing quality livestock fencing products that will hold up to the rigours of farm life.
The Top 5 Basics of Cattle Fencing
Upon installing stock fencing, there are important factors that you need to know to avoid any potential issues that may threaten the integrity of the installation:
- Planning
The most basic principle when it comes to cattle fencing is the one that will save many hassles in the long run – planning. Knowing where your fences need to be installed, and how and where they need to be divided to prevent overgrazing and wandering into neighbouring paddocks is the most important component of successful cattle fencing. Depending on the size of your herd, start with two paddocks and add more if necessary. Take into consideration the materials that you will use for the posts and droppers as timber, even if treated, will burn.
- Corner or Straining Posts and Spacing
Corner posts that are undersized or have not been set in deep enough, especially in loose or soft soils, can lead to a weakened fence and the posts that can be lifted out of the ground with little force. Corners, or straining posts, should not be more than 500 metres apart and the depth in the ground should be equal to, if not greater than the top height of the fence.
- Standards and Droppers
Standards can be set between 12 and 16 metres apart depending on the topography. Where the landscape is uneven, the standards should be set closer together. The suggested norm where the standards are 12 metres apart is to have three droppers, while wider spacing requires four droppers between standards.
- Type of Wire
When it comes to cattle fencing, five strands of barbed wire that are evenly spaced and tensioned correctly are sufficient. The suggested fence height is 1.2 metres. The sun can be fencing’s worst enemy if the barbed wire has been pulled too tight as the wire is strained in the heat and when it cools down it tends to weaken and break. Adequate tension along with the correct amount of standards and droppers will ensure a longer-lasting fence.
- Gates
Protecting your cattle extends to protecting your fields. Having a gate situated in the corner of the paddock or placing four gates where four paddocks meet makes it easier to move your herds from one field to another through central points. The cattle will become used to these exchange points and this will lessen trampling over a larger area.
Seek Advice from the Professionals
Approaching cattle fencing the right way is a challenge that can be met through proper planning and preparation. When it comes to the different types of fencing required for any type of livestock farming, contact the experts in the field – Chemvet Steel & Fencing. We have been manufacturing bespoke fencing solutions for domestic, agricultural and industrial purposes since 1979.
