Questions: electric wire height and cows with pigs?

[nathan104]

I bought my charger and wire and am planning on getting started putting up my electric wire here very soon. Right now we have two small gilts in a pen but I would like to be able to let them out into the pasture once the wire is up. Right now we have 5 strand barb wire. I am also in the process of finding two calves to put out to pasture to raise up.

First off, will the pigs and cows be alright sharing a pasture or should they be seperated?

Second, what is the best placement of the wire as far as height off the ground? My pigs are small right now so I was thinking of running a wire at 5"(to both keep them in while they are young, and keep dogs from coming in). Im not sure what height to put the second wire or if a second wire for the pigs would be needed. I really like a wire higher up on the fence for the cows but sure dont want to have to run three wires. The plastic insulators Im using will keep the wire about 2 1/2 inches off the posts and barb wire fence. If I have to run a second wire down low, Ill probably not run a third higher up for the cows. I only got enough wire and supplies for two wires.

Any help would be great. Thanks.

[3kidsomy]

I would run one wire at their chest/neck high and that should do it, you may need one at 2' also though. Having the 2 together really depends on how big your pasture is really, i split mine so they weren't together, the animals didn't care about each other at all, just the pig root up everywhere and i know the cows weren't appreciating that at all, my pasture is not very big.

[highlands]

I can't comment on cows since we don't have them but we do have sheep, chickens, ducks and a goose all of whom pasture with the pigs just fine.

For height it is going to vary with the size of the animal. Think two wires, one at low walking nose height and one at high walking nose height. What works for finisher pigs won't generally work for piglets and visa-versa with smooth wire. A visual mark helps. Having what the pigs want inside helps. Habit helps. Keep the fence hot. Train them to the electric before letting them into a larger area.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
in the mountains of Vermont
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/blog/
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