perm electric fence: steel or fiberglass posts

[Paul Wheaton]

We've decided we want to run some internal fences to help make setting up paddocks go faster. We currently have four foot high fiberglass posts, and cows seem happy to jump over those.

We're currently contemplating 6 foot posts.

Now the question is: steel or fiberglass.

The local farm store has the 6 foot steel posts for $2.75 (on sale now!)

Searching the internet, I can find 6 foot fiberglass posts for $1.75 (plus shipping).

I'm currently thinking that fiberglass would be the way to go. But I've made some dumb decisions before and it always seems wise to check here before making a big purchase.

What do you guys think?

[Ken Scharabok]

Your cows jump over a 4' high fence! Mine will respect an electic fence even if it is off usually.

Ken Scharabok

[Paul Wheaton]

4' high posts pounded into the ground a bit leaves about 3.5 feet or less.

Hmmmmm, maybe 5 foot posts would be enough. $1.46 each plus shipping.

[whodunit]

IMO fiberglass as it ages developes splinters and it takes along time to find those splinters one they are in your skin.


What kind of cows do you have? 4 feet is a pretty good jump must be quite the sight to see!


Mrs Whodunit

[uncle Will in In.]

Paul, does your fence feel like you were hit with a steel bar when you touch it? If not that is why your cows are jumping it. I never had a cow get up the nerve to try and jump a hot wire even if it wasn't over three feet high. The same cows would go over a cattle panel if they were crowded. Old steel T posts picked up at farm auctions make good posts for electric fence. I bought over 100 T post that had rusted off at the ground for 10 cents apiece at a consginment auction once. They were about 4 feet and three feet was high enough to hold cattle.

[OD]

Fiberglass posts don't last very long, I think the sun ruins them. If they have to be replaced in a year or two, you haven't saved anything. Our electric fence is not over 24" high between the cow pasture & the yard & they won't get close enough to find out if they can jump it.

[agmantoo]

Paul, the cheap fiberglass post are not worth having IMO. I buy a white PVC fiberglass reenforced post that is now selling for around $5. To me that is expensive but the post are drilled on 2 inch center and all you have to use is a "hairpin" and an insulator is not required. These are tough posts and I have no shorting problems. I do not use gates. Instead I use a 8 feet long 2" pvc pipe with a vee cut in one end. I remove the hairpin and I place the pvc pipe on the post and lift the wire up and place it in the vee. The cattle walk under the fence and the power can remain on since the pvc pipe is also an insulator. The above reference to your charger being too weak is correct. Once you get you cattle conditioned to a hot charger they will not test the single strand if it is about waist high. I purposely have my wires high to allow the calves to graze ahead of the cows. You will ant to use the high tensile strength wire also. It is around $55 for 4000 ft.

[rambler]

At that price, I think there will be problems with the fiberglass posts - not stable enough to last in the sun. Sounds like poor quality stuff.

I have no actual experience with long-term fiberglass tho.

Around here good used 6' steel T posts run about $1 each at farm sales, and is the best way to go.

--->Paul