Fencing for Paddocks

The word "paddock" has a couple of meanings in a livestock operation. A paddock for a horseman is usually a small pasture near the barn where horses are kept handy for use by riders. A cattle paddock is a smaller segment of a larger pasture that is used to concentrate the cattle on a small part of the pasture for a short time in a rotational grazing plan. Fencing is critical for either type of paddock.

  1. Cattle Paddock Temporary Fencing

    • Because the cattle are moved frequently, often every three to five days, some farmers use temporary fencing to keep costs down, according to the website of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. These fences are usually made with high-tensile wire containing an electrical charge. Lightweight metal posts that can be installed and removed easily are used on this type of fence. The wire is attached to the post using electric insulators. This type of temporary fence is used to keep the cattle in a small area within a larger pasture. If the cattle escape the temporary paddock fence, they are still held within the perimeter fence of the larger pasture.

    Cattle Paddock Permanent Fencing

    • Cattlemen who have made a longer-term commitment to rotational grazing often install permanent fencing to create the paddocks. These fences are often barbed wire strung between steel or wood fence posts. In some cases, an electrical wire is also included to keep the cattle from leaning on the fence and damaging the wire.

    Wood Horse Paddocks

    • Horse paddocks, because they are in highly visible areas near the barn, are often built of wood. According the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, treated wood posts and boards are best in this type of application. Treated posts are expected to last up to 35 years, while untreated posts often rot off at ground level in as little as five years.

    Pipe Horse Paddocks

    • Pipe fencing is often used for horse fencing in the southwestern United States, according to the University of Illinois Extension Office. The pipe is often salvaged and recycled from prior oil field use. Pipe is easy to maintain and strong. Usually three to five horizontal pipes are placed between pipe fence posts. A pipe fence has a more utilitarian look than wood fencing but can be attractive if painted.

    PVC Horse Paddock

    • Poly Vinyl Chloride fencing is made to resemble a wood board fence but does not require painting and is resistant to rot. The fence is not as strong as wood, however, and should only be used for a horse paddock if an electrical wire is run on the interior of the fence to keep the horses from leaning on the PVC fencing material.