Livestock fence - wire spacing

[Wayne02]

Four foot tall, four wire (barbed) fence. What wire spacing do you usually use in this application?

Thanks

[Bearfootfarm]

It depends on what you want to keep in and out.
Not enough info for an answer

[Wayne02]

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

It depends on what you want to keep in and out.
Not enough info for an answer

[Minelson]

LOL! great picture!

[ace admirer]

4 foot high fence is not going to do it. unless the grass is not even on the other side.

[agmantoo]

Working with what you provided I would go 8", 18", 28", 40" starting from the ground and going upward. I would put a hot charger on the 28 inch wire. If I cannot keep a cow in with that I will send her to market.

[Wayne02]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Working with what you provided I would go 8", 18", 28", 40" starting from the ground and going upward. I would put a hot charger on the 28 inch wire. If I cannot keep a cow in with that I will send her to market.

Ok, thanks!

[Windy in Kansas]

My first thoughts as to the photo--a flighty jumper, go with higher.

[agmantoo]

I contain 100 plus head of mature Angus and their offspring daily with a single strand of smooth hot wire on paddocks with two or more sides not over 30 inches high. Occasionally a calf will walk under the single wire but the momma cows remain contained. The perimeter fence is only 42 inches tall and the only cow that ever went over the top was spooky Santa Gertrudis that remained on the farm only until the next shipment of feeder calves made "the trip". Cattle that exhibit traits that are undesirable get a one way ticket. I process the cattle by myself, if I cannot catch and hold a cow's calf without the cow going crazy I do not need those genetics. I neutered 3 calves this evening on the back 40 and everyone was well behaved. The momma cows stood by but did not behave as if they were going to do bodily harm. Bad habits of animals are usually learned. Do not let the herd start such behavior. Cull!

[jhambley]

Here's a link to a page I found helpful in planning my electric fence. It gives you a break down by type of animal and number of wires.

http://www.gallagherusa.com/pfConfig/default.aspx

JH

[sidepasser]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

I contain 100 plus head of mature Angus and their offspring daily with a single strand of smooth hot wire on paddocks with two or more sides not over 30 inches high. Occasionally a calf will walk under the single wire but the momma cows remain contained. The perimeter fence is only 42 inches tall and the only cow that ever went over the top was spooky Santa Gertrudis that remained on the farm only until the next shipment of feeder calves made "the trip". Cattle that exhibit traits that are undesirable get a one way ticket. I process the cattle by myself, if I cannot catch and hold a cow's calf without the cow going crazy I do not need those genetics. I neutered 3 calves this evening on the back 40 and everyone was well behaved. The momma cows stood by but did not behave as if they were going to do bodily harm. Bad habits of animals are usually learned. Do not let the herd start such behavior. Cull!

Very sound advice and works well with horses. If I have one that is a fence jumper and can't be contained in normal fencing (mine is five feet high, cattle panels and board fencing, one strand of electric tape to keep ponies off the fence), that horse is sold immediately. I will not have one that I have to chase down everyday. There are so many nice animals out there that it behooves one to get an animal that won't destroy fences, sail over them whenever they feel like it, or even worse, are out to destroy the owner bodily.

[Wayne02]

Originally Posted by agmantoo

spooky Santa Gertrudis

LOL, I can see we need to get more creative when naming our cattle!

Your point about being able to handle the critters single handedly is an excellent one. I have been working diligently to design and build systems that will hopefully allow my wife and I to continue with the lifestyle even when our health starts to digress. Everything from designing the home to be handicap accessible to designing the firewood processing to be more automated and less difficult on the body. My 18 year old son is likely to depart and make a life of his own over the next couple of years, and with his departure goes a strong back that we rely on more and more.

I had not thought about applying the same principle to selective critter management, but that is probably because we have been lucky so far and not had any problem animals. I'm guessing the first time I had to chase a cow that escaped I would change my mind right quick.