Special fencing for dexters?

[Dirtslinger]

I'm looking into getting 2-3 dexter cows this winter. If they were to escape I would have serious trouble getting them back. my place is fenced from long ago with barb wire that has kept horses in fairly well but dexters are way lower and could probably get through it.
Having no experience with cattle either so I am a bit paranoid. Each property around here has quite deep ditches (6' wide by 2-4' deep). Seems to hold back most horses so far.
The pasture grasses grow so fast here that electric may not be the best way, always getting grounded.
Would appreciate hearing what has been 100% effective for you.

It's more of an issue because I work f/t off the farm and there is nobody else to keep an eye on things while I'm out.
Thanks!

[JulieLou42]

You could go with 39" field fencing -- "critter wire" or "woven wire" to some -- and top that off with a strand or two of barbed if you don't want to use electric.

I have that -- no barbs -- with hotwire on the top around just over an acre, and keep my 3/4 Guernsey-Red Angus pastured with that without any problem. It's not been my grasses that have caused problems, but the gates with hotwires across them, that are opened with handles on the wires, sometimes give me a problem when the wind blows causing them to short out. Also, I once had bird poop on an insulator that caused the hotwire to arc.
You'd hear those during the day and if not, see them at night...plus, your charger won't make the right clicking noise, and its needle gauge will be down in the red.

I think I paid about $100 for the charger, and a few dollars for a grounding rod, not to mention the wire and insulators...probably $200 for all of it, not counting the t-posts I had to put in, being a new pasture.

[Rogo]

Dexters are known for being easy on fences. They're a very mellow breed.

Barbed wire isn't used in these parts; it just causes vet bills.

With all the grass you have, the Dexters shouldn't be a problem.

I had 5 foot fencing when I had my Dexter. I have a 12 volt solar fencer that cuts thru plant life, but never had a need to use it at that time. Being on acreage, my stock had plenty of room.

[freeholdfarms]

Mine kept going through the old barb wire that kept in the horses and goats
Put up a three wire hot wire fence, 1', 2', & 3'.
That and getting a bull made the girls stay home

[genebo]

The bull probably made more difference than the fence. When they like where they live better than where they can see, then fencing is no problem.

Genebo
Paradise Farm

[65284]

If Dexters, or any other breed, have pasture, mineral, water, shade, and companionship, they are not likely to be hard to contain. If they have adequate amounts of what they require there's no need for them to roam.

[Dirtslinger]

Thanks for the tips.
With the bull suggestion, are you both allowing the bull 100% free reign with the herd? I would have thought the bull would be first out?

[Dexter_Cattle]

Hi Dirtslinger,

We let our bull run with the herd at all times except this last year we pulled him out in April to June so that we wouldn't have January and February calves.

Ours doesn't bother the fence at all. We have 1 tiny cow that is the hardest on a fence, as she tries to get the grass that tastes better on the opposite side of the fence...lol...

Ours don't get out unless we do stupid things like leave the gate open.

Dan