If you do split rail, you'd better add a hot wire or two in the middle on the cow side. They will rub, get their head under those rails and destroy your fence.
My working corrals are portable panels. They work really well, plus I can pick them up and use them for other things too. I paid about $70 for each panel. Haven't had a cow ruin one yet, or escape for that matter. I prefer the type that pin together, rather than chains.
If I were to build a corral, I would use cattle panels, wood posts, with a board around the top and mid-way. I can't remember what the square footage per cow is supposed to be for a holding pen, but I do know that the most common corral problem is making it too big. Nothing like playing "ring around the rosie" with Bossie all day
Google cattle working facilities and you will find the answer.
Your perimeter fencing (are you fencing the whole 290 acres??? or just the part where the cows are?) is really a matter of terrain and obstacles.
I find high tensile to be a pain through woods and brush. The bottom wires get eaten by grass and I can't even find them. If something falls on it, it's hard to dig the wire out to re-string the fence. Barbed wire works better. If a tree smashes a section, it's easier to patch, just cut it at the last good post and run new sections of wire to the next good post.
I use a single hot wire to divide my pastures. It's easy to run, easy to change. My cows are very good though, they respect fences
I also use high tensile barbed wire for hot wires. I find it much easier to use than smooth wire, but that's just me.
Jena
My working corrals are portable panels. They work really well, plus I can pick them up and use them for other things too. I paid about $70 for each panel. Haven't had a cow ruin one yet, or escape for that matter. I prefer the type that pin together, rather than chains.
If I were to build a corral, I would use cattle panels, wood posts, with a board around the top and mid-way. I can't remember what the square footage per cow is supposed to be for a holding pen, but I do know that the most common corral problem is making it too big. Nothing like playing "ring around the rosie" with Bossie all day
Your perimeter fencing (are you fencing the whole 290 acres??? or just the part where the cows are?) is really a matter of terrain and obstacles.
I find high tensile to be a pain through woods and brush. The bottom wires get eaten by grass and I can't even find them. If something falls on it, it's hard to dig the wire out to re-string the fence. Barbed wire works better. If a tree smashes a section, it's easier to patch, just cut it at the last good post and run new sections of wire to the next good post.
I use a single hot wire to divide my pastures. It's easy to run, easy to change. My cows are very good though, they respect fences
I also use high tensile barbed wire for hot wires. I find it much easier to use than smooth wire, but that's just me.
Jena