How to Fence a Pasture

Secure fencing for your livestock is a huge and important responsibility. It not only keeps the animals inside a safe area, but it prevents them from wandering or causing accidents that would result in lawsuits (or worse). Fencing can also be a huge expense that will surprise livestock owners with the cost of installation and maintenance. In order to avoid unnecessary cost and to prevent endless repair work, it is important to fence your pasture correctly the first time.

Things You'll Need

  • Leather gloves
  • Cement
  • Level
  • Pipe or heavy wooden posts for corner posts and braces
  • T-posts or wooden posts
  • Wire or lumber
  • Fence stretcher for wire fencing
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Pliers
  • Fencing tool
  • Fence clips
  • Stakes
  • String
  • Post-hole digger
  • T-post driver
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by marking off the corners of your pasture. Drive one stake into each corner.

    • 2

      Remove your wooden marker stakes. Using your post-hole digger, dig a hole 24 inches deep, and pour your concrete into the hole. Then place your permanent post material, whether it is pipe or heavy-duty post lumber, into the hole with the cement, and allow it to cure for 72 hours.

    • 3

      Tie one end of the string to a corner post, then run it down your future fence line to the next corner post and secure it. You want this string to be about 6 inches off the ground. Pull the string tight to maintain a straight line from post to post.

    • 4

      Using the string as a guide line, take your T-post driver and drive your T-posts into the ground every 12 feet from one corner post to the next. If you decide to use wooden fencing posts or other fencing materials, you will need to dig holes with your post-hole digger and set the posts into cement, allowing them to cure for 48 hours, at least.

    • 5

      Create your H-brace at your corner posts. This is done by digging another hole no more than 8 feet from the first corner post, then cementing another permanent corner post into that hole. Nail or weld a heavy-duty lumber piece or pipe section from the top of one of these posts to the next, creating the "H" shape.

    • 6

      Tighten your "H" brace by securing wire from the top of one corner post to the base of the opposite corner post. Then, using your fencing tool, twist the wire until the two posts are being drawn toward one another, creating tension in the cross post between the corner posts. You may repeat this with the tops of both posts, or you may do only one.

    • 7

      Stretch and attach your wire or lumber or other fencing material to your T-posts and/or your wooden or fiberglass posts. This is done by tying one end of your wire or fence material to the corner post, then stretching it to the next corner post. You will use a fence stretcher to maintain tension on the fence while you work.

    • 8

      Attach your fence wire to the T-posts with fence clips and pliers, or, if you are using wooden posts, nail the fence to the wooden posts. If you are using lumber to build your fence, you will need to nail the lumber to the wooden posts. A minimum of three boards is required for safe field fencing. If you are using lumber, use a level to make sure your boards are straight.

    • 9

      Walk your completed fence line and make certain that the fence is taut, the corner posts are stable and that all is secure before turning any livestock out into the pasture.