Electric Fencing for Cattle
The purposes of using electric fencing for cattle can be for various reasons.
- Creating a boundary fence
- Rotational Grazing where parts of fields at sectioned to manage pasture
- Strip grazing when feeding cattle root crops
Electric fencing is part and parcel of having a herd of cattle. If using effectively mantain their condition whilst managing pasture and enclosing them in a safe environment. Of course stock fencing is the traditional method of containing cattle within boundaries and in tandem with electric fencing provide a cost effective fencing system. Cattle will always be looking for greener pastures and roots of escape and any weak points in your fencing, so it is important to keep a strong current all along your fence system with high voltage to to gain respect of larger livestock such as cows.
There are four methods of fencing Cattle:
Strip Grazing with a Reel System:
The most commonly used method of fencing cattle is a 2 lines reel system with 3ft plastic posts and poly wire. These can come in different lengths of 200m, 500m or even 1,000m long. The reel can either be standard 1:1 or 3:1 geared enabling fasting winding to move the fencing. These reel strip grazing kits can be using a long straight lines, boundary fences or pretty any shape you need. They can run off in one direction and stop without needing to come back on itself.
Strip Grazing with Pigtai Posts:
When moving fencing regularly Pigtail posts can be used to reduce the time for moving. Pigtail electric fence posts only have 1 loop for a poly or stranded wire fence which can be sufficient if the cows are used to electric fencing. Setting this type of fence can be done with reels and a mounting posts or hanging a reel off an existing permanent fence.
Permanent Electric Galvanised Wire:
For permanent grazing of pasture a long term electric fence made up of high tensile galvanised wire and 3-4 inch wooden posts with insulated strainers on the corners. Generally 3 lines of wire sufficient to contain cattle but if you are dealing with small lambs in the field its is recommended to add a further line lower down. Fence systems of this type can run several miles of fencing on larger farms and estates.
Stock Fencing:
Although striclty not electric fencing stock fence is also sold by Agri-Supply and can be used in conjunction with electric fencing internally. We recommend using Tornado Wire C8/80/15 or HT8/80/15 with 3-4 inch wooden posts. For cattle it is recommend to use at least 1 line of barbed wire on top to create height and a deterrant for Cattle pushing on the fence.