December 2016 Articles

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Farm Fencing

Farm Fences - Planning and Construction—Fences have been used for livestock control for many centuries. Control of movement of domestic and wild animals has been their primary purpose. The location, type of animal and its habits determine what type of fence works best. The original fences were hedgerows or rock. Today we have many fencing options available to fit our specific situation. Materials range from vinyl to metal and wood. Wire can come in many forms including barbed, smooth, net and even chain link. Regardless of materials, construction of the fence determines how long and how well the fence will do its job. Proper construction involves planning as well as material selection and the actual building of the fence.

Planning Process Start with a good plan to build a good fence. This applies whether you're building a permanent or temporary fence. Good planning includes making a map of the area, laying out the desired fence locations and selecting material. The planning process starts by deciding where the fence will go. This means preparing a map of the area. You will need Information from three resources for the map: 1) soil capability map, 2) aerial photograph and 3) a topographical (topo) map of the location. Land capability or soil type maps show what soil types are in an area and what use and management practices are best for the land. Aerial photos show details of the farm layout and give you an overall perspective of the land. Topo maps tell you the "lay of the land" or elevations and contours of your farm. These three pieces of information should be available from your local Farm Service Agency (FSA) or Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The information is extremely important if you are working with a new place. It is just as useful on property you have owned or farmed for years. Once you have the information, map out boundaries of hay, crop, pasture and all other use areas for the property. This defines the boundaries you will be working with. Use the soil and topo maps to avoid problem areas, such as wet locations, as much as possible. Fence out ponds and low wetland areas that hold water on regular bases to improve herd health and maintain a clean water supply for the animals. Now it's time to review and make material selections. You should review the plan and, if possible, view the location of the new fences. Where have drainage ditches or ponds been added since the last aerial photo? Do you need to clear a lane through a wood lot? Are old fences present that were not on the map or photo? You'll need to adjust for these things in your plan. With the map complete, you should be ready to determine the size of your pasture. Plot the new fences and plan for gate locations, alleys or lanes and other features you will need to move and work cattle. Then measure the length and plan for comer post, gate post and in-line bracing or pull post. This will allow you to make an accurate list of material you will need. Lanes are very useful in moving livestock from one pasture to another or for moving to a central working facility. Gates should be located in corners for ease of moving livestock and across from each other along lanes. Types of Fences There are two basic types of fences: permanent and temporary. Permanent fences are designed and constructed to last a long time, generally 20 to 40 years, while temporary fences are used for short time, usually a few months. The material and construction methods differ with each type. Permanent fences are made with sturdier posts and constructed to provide long service with minimal maintenance. Temporary fences are generally used for rotational or seasonal grazing, to keep livestock away from hay stacked or cut in a pasture, or to provide a quick fix for a permanent fence to be repaired later. Permanent fences are built to last. When properly constructed and maintained, they can last from 15 to 40 years. Permanent fences are used around the perimeter of your property as well as major dividing fences or cross fences in pastures. They are usually constructed with metal or wood posts and define the basic shape of your pasture. Temporary fences are not as well constructed and generally have fewer strands of wire, more distance between posts & generally will last from three months to a year. They are used in intensive grazing operations to separate animals from hay or winter forage or to reestablish parts of a pasture. They also can be used to provide a quick fix for downed permanent fences to be repaired later. In the planning stage, you will need to plan for both types of fences as they fit your operation. All perimeter fences need to be built as permanent fences. Also any cross fences should be permanent as well as those around ponds. Temporary fences can be added later or move as needed. If you plan to use temporary fences, however, sturdy posts in key locations along the perimeter fence can be useful.

Fencing Materials
Board and chain link fences, if maintained properly, will work for many years, but their cost makes them impractical for most operations. These materials would be good choices, however, for around farm buildings, yards, gardens or where expensive horses or other animals are housed in small areas. They can improve or enhance the appearance of a home or yard. Cable or pipe is another good fence material for specific applications. These materials work well when used for holding pens or dry lot operations. Cable and pipe make strong fences. Cables allow for some give to the fence; pipe is rigid. Again, the costs of these types of fences are prohibitive for most applications. Barbed wire is probably the most common type of wire used today. The typical barbed wire fence will have three to six strands of wire and is used for cattle or horses. This type of fence is not suitable for control of smaller animals or for wildlife control. Barbed wire is generally sold in rolls of 80 rods (80 rods = 1320 feet = 1/4 mile) long and is available in several styles and sizes. A standard barbed wire fence has five to six posts per 100 feet and may have wire stays between the posts. High-tensile fences are popular and can be used in place of barbed wire. These fences are made of smooth wire and generally have from five to 10 strands. The wire is stretched between pull posts, with tension being maintained by springs in the fences. Devices placed in the run allow you to adjust tension if needed. The advantages are that high-tensile fences are somewhat easier to handle, easier on livestock and easy to adapt. They are generally more economical than other fences and have a longer life expectancy. High-tensile fences work well for large livestock and can be adapted better than barbed wire. Woven or net wire fences, also known as hog wire fences, are best suited for small animals such as sheep, goats or hogs, and for controlling some types of wildlife. The wire is a series of horizontal wire held apart by vertical stays. The square or rectangle gaps in the wire generally get smaller toward the bottom of the fence. The wire generally comes in 26- to 48-inch heights and is more expensive than barbed wire fence. In many applications a single strand or barbed wire is place above the net wire to help keep animals from jumping or to keep large animals from reaching over the top. A barbed wire at the bottom of the fence will do the same to discourage animals from going under the net wire. Electric fencing has become more popular because of their effectiveness and ease of making quality temporary fences. Electricity can be added to any fence with a little modification. Electric fences can be temporary or permanent. Permanent electric fences generally use high-tensile fencing materials and are either fences by themselves or used as a single wire added to an existing permanent fence. Temporary electric fences can be extended from them. Adding an insulator is all it generally takes to make the conversion from a regular to an electric fence. Offset stays are used to add an electric wire to existing conventional fences. In a new application in high-tensile fences, every other wire or each wire can be "hot." To make an electric fence effective, you need a good fence charger. The setup of the charger is important. A charger that is not well grounded will not be effective. You also need to follow recommendations for lightning protection provided by the manufacturer. Poor installation or lack of maintenance can make electric fences very dangerous. Homemade chargers and improper installation can result in serous injury or death. Material Selection Now that the fence is planned and you have the measurements, it's time to select the materials. Fencing materials include boards, barbed wire, woven wire, cable, mesh wire and high tensile wire. Electricity can be added to most fence types to increase effectiveness. Post materials include wood, metal, plastic, fiberglass and composite materials. The purpose of the fence will determine the most appropriate material. Continued in the January Issue of Ag Trader USA