How to Build an Electric Cattle Fence

An electric wire fence is a cost-efficient way to contain cattle and other livestock. Take the time to plan out your fence. This is a long-term investment, lasting 20 to 25 years if installed and maintained properly. The size of your pasture will depend on the number of cattle in your herd, the amount of land you have available, and the roughness of terrain.

Things You'll Need

  • 6-foot post stakes, 510
  • Post driver
  • 5,100 feet barbed wire fence (2pt or 4pt)
  • 1,530 plastic insulators
  • Electric fence charger
  • 6-foot galvanized or copper ground rod
  • Ground rod clamp
  • Gloves
  • Wire cutters
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Instructions

  1. Preparation

    • 1

      Plan out the fence area based on number of cattle in your herd, roughness of terrain and available land.

    • 2

      Clear the fence area of all brush, trees and other objects that could touch the fence and short it out.

    • 3
      Drive all posts the same depth into the ground.

      Make a mark on all posts 18 inches from the bottom, ensuring that all posts are driven in at the same depth.

    Installing the Fence

    • 4

      Drive corner posts 18 inches into the ground for all corners. Brace the corners by driving a post in diagonally to your corner post and attaching corner brackets.

    • 5

      Tie bailing twine to one of the corner posts. Stretch the twine to the other corner post along the same side. For every 100 feet of length, add a post to secure your line. This line will ensure a straight line as you drive the rest of the posts.

    • 6

      Drive the remaining posts along your straight line 10 feet apart.

    • 7
      Use a fence stretcher to get the wire tight between posts.

      Attach the bottom row of barbed wire 1 foot from the ground on the inside of the posts using plastic insulators. Use a fence stretcher at every post to ensure a tight wire. Tie a fisherman's knot at the last post to secure the wire.

    • 8

      Attach the top row of barbed wire 6 inches from the top on the inside of the posts using plastic insulators. Use a fence stretcher at every post to ensure the wire is tight. Tie a fisherman's knot at the last post to secure the wire.

    • 9

      Attach the middle row of barbed wire evenly between the bottom and top rows of wire on the inside of the post using plastic insulators. Use the fence stretcher to tighten the wire at every post. Secure the wire at the last post with a fisherman's knot.

    • 10

      Install a 6-foot galvanized or copper ground rod no more than 15 feet from the fence controller. Use a ground rod clamp to attach the ground wire to the ground rod. The ground wire can be insulated, but does not have to be.

    • 11

      Connect the fence controller lead-out wire to the top row of fence wire.

    • 12

      Connect the jumper wire from the top row of fence to the middle row and then to the bottom row.