Cattle Fencing Options

Cattle fencing serves multiple purposes. It provides a barrier that is physical, psychological or a blend of both. The barrier restricts the livestock's movement. It can effectively keep predators out and can keep animals contained within a limited space for their safety and the safety and convenience of neighboring human communities. Function, cost, projected lifespan, maintenance and durability influence the choice of fencing materials. A number of cattle fencing options are in common contemporary use.

  1. Woven Wire Cattle Fencing

    • Woven wire fences are made up of smooth horizontal wires called lines that are held apart by vertical wires called stays. Woven wire fences are available in a variety of wire and spacing size combinations. They are usually constructed to heights around 48 inches.

    Barbed Wire Cattle Fencing

    • Barbed wire is made up of two or more strands of smooth galvanized wire. The wire is twisted together, and sharp barbs protrude, usually spaced at intervals of 4 or 5 inches. In general, barbed wire fences are comprised of three, four or five barbed wire strands strung between a set of posts with a fence height up to about 54 inches. Barbed wire is strung taut to make it most effective as a barrier.

    Mesh Wire Cattle Fencing

    • Mesh wire fences are strong, safe for livestock and are costly. They are usually used for confinement areas or very limited acreages. The wire is measured in gauges such as 11 gauge, 14 gauge, 16 gauge and so forth. Two commonly available designs are available. Diamond-mesh is one design and square knot is the other. The height of a mesh wire fence is commonly from 50 to 72 inches.

    Board Cattle Fencing

    • Board fences are known for their strength, attractive look and safety for livestock. Fence builders sometimes put looks ahead of practicality and defeat the fence's purpose. If the boards are attached to the post on the exterior side, away from the cattle, the cattle will lean on the boards and dislodge them. The more effective construction is to nail the boards to the post on the interior side so that cattle inclined to push the fence will only enhance the integrity of their boundary.

      Usually, these fences are made from boards that are 4 to 6 inches wide and 1 to 2 inches thick. Like other cattle fencing, board fencing is usually around 5-feet high. The initial cost to build board fencing is high. Board fences are labor intensive to maintain.

    High Tensile Cattle Fencing

    • High tensile fencing is increasingly common because it is inexpensive by comparison with other types, it is not difficult to handle and it demands very little maintenance. Livestock can bump into high tensile fencing, temperatures can drop and the fence retains its shape without sagging.

      This fencing is made of wire from 11 to 14 gauge. The high pounds per square inch (psi) tensile strength of the wire is crucial. Posts may be set as close as 16 feet apart and as far as 90 feet, with wire up to 200,000 psi and a breaking strength of about 1,800 lbs. During installation, each wire is tightened with a tension device called a strainer that remains in place and is re-tightened as needed. Strainers are placed near the center of the fence line. In this way, tension is maintained across each separate expanse of line.

    Electric Cattle Fencing

    • Electric fences have been used safely and effectively as both a permanent and temporary form of cattle fencing. The electric fence emits an electrical shock to any animal that makes direct contact with the wire. The shock is sufficient to deter the animal from pushing further but it does not injure the animal. An electric fence has the advantage of encouraging cattle to respect the fence and encouraging predators to respect it, too.