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    Electric Fence/ Cattle?

    Assume I know little to nothing of cattle. But the county says I can get away with just three head on my 75 acres for the Ag exemption. The existing barbwire fence is pretty shot. I plan to keep them only as long as needed to swap to wildlife.

    So I think I need to go with an electric fence? How should it be designed to hold them in without spending unnecessary money? Thanks!

    #2
    How are your posts? Throw up some insulators. Find some very tame cows. Easy peasy.

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by Rubberdown View Post
      How are your posts? Throw up some insulators. Find some very tame cows. Easy peasy.
      Good but buried in the brush/ trees. I plan to run a dozer just inside the fence.

      I'm concerned with post spacing, power requirements, number of wires, elevation of wires, etc.

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        #4
        Can you get away with panels?

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          #5
          We don't know what the fence looks like.

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            #6
            The whole property will need to be fenced.

            Everything will be built from scratch.

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              #7
              Originally posted by toledo View Post
              The whole property will need to be fenced.

              Everything will be built from scratch.
              I'd run a solar hotwire around it. You need to train them first unless they know what it is.

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                #8
                Originally posted by oktx View Post
                I'd run a solar hotwire around it. You need to train them first unless they know what it is.
                This! I like the Parmak chargers. Better than the solar chargers are their 12v battery, Magnum 12. You’d need to keep an eye on the battery. I have an extra that stays on a trickle charger and I swap with my other batteries weekly. I just rotate them all.
                Last edited by justhrowit; 06-26-2022, 04:11 PM.

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by oktx View Post
                  I'd run a solar hotwire around it.
                  Yes, that's what I'm asking about. Do I just run a single wire at any height and call it good? Or is there more to it?

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by toledo View Post
                    Yes, that's what I'm asking about. Do I just run a single wire at any height and call it good? Or is there more to it?
                    1 wire would probably do it.

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                      #11
                      Study up on grounding.
                      A good ground system is the key to a good electric fence.
                      Calculate how much fence you are going to need in length and buy the appropriate size energizer
                      Gallagher used to have a lot of good info on their website. Covered grounding, wire spacing, etc
                      A single wire will work but you need to keep weeds, grass, briars etc off of it. Think about it like a water line and every thing touching it is a pinhole which reduces output. Any metal touching it is a busted pipe

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                        #12
                        We run 100 cows plus calves with 1 strand elec fence. Move the cows every week or so. Use plastic t post designed for the wire. Can put a fence up or take it down in no time. Yes, as stated above cows need to be trained to it but that is easy also.

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                          #13
                          For best performance, you’ll want to run the galvanized wire. Posts can be spaced 40-50’ apart. From our experience you want to run fresh posts and don’t just put insulators on the existing fence… you’ll be chasing shorts constantly.

                          About belt high will be about right for a single wire. (30 ish inches)

                          If you have option of a 110 volt charger, I’d go that route, but wouldnt run any electric lines to do it.

                          What ever mileage your running (75 acres may be about 1-1.5 miles total fence) I would double for sizing. 10 joule fence ought to be plenty for you.


                          And like said above, ground ground ground… drive a couple 3-4 good and deep and daisy chain them. You can never over ground


                          Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Personally I always run one high and one lower for the calves. Get some of the caution tape and tie it on the fence at regular intervals. Like every 5 feet or what ever. Cows come to sniff it or eat it or whatever and get hit and say oh I’m going to stay away from it from now on. Works unless it gets real real dry. Then they will just take the shock to get some grass. Will not keep a frisky bull out at all.


                            Make sure you have a good ground setup and I dunno about solar. Have always had power to plug in.

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                              #15
                              Electric fence will work fine and then buy a few old dairy cows.

                              -john

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