Find Out: The 5 Best Electric Fence For Cattle Reviews
Whether it is a small garden or a large pasture, every person has the right to defend and protect his/her property. To achieve this, you need to employ the best protective measures. For pastures, aimless wandering and predators pose a serious threat to your livestock. For those with gardens and farms, they need to stop herbivorous and omnivorous pests like deer and wild hogs from invading and destroying their property.
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These are some reasons why people are now turning to electric fences; they are considered the best option as you will be able to protect your lands from pests and intruders. People have been using electric fences to keep out pests and critters for a while now. It is also a long-lasting, economical, and safe alternative to those dangerous and wrong barbed wire fence height for cattle and non-electric fencing.
However, it is important that you pick the right products. To help you out, here is a compiled list of the best electric fence for cattle, along with their pros and cons so that you can make the right choice. But before diving into the products, we need to clear some basics.
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Electric fence design and function
Electric fences have been designed to generate a electricity when touched by an animal or person. Power is converted into a short high-voltage pulse by a component called a power energizer. There are two terminals on a power energizer; one releases an electrical pulse on the connected bare wire every second. The other is connected to a metal rod, which is implanted in the earth; it is also called an earth or ground rod.
If your animal touches both the earth and the wire, a pulse will complete the electrical circuit and cause electric shocks. The effects of the shock will depend upon the degree of contact between the ground, fence, and the recipient, the energy of the pulse, the route of the current through the body, and the voltage. It can range from extremely mild to painful, uncomfortable, or even lethal.
What are the best electric fence wire for cattle?
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Some of the best electric fencings for cattle are:
#1. Baygard Electric Fence Yellow/Black Wire
Whether you are looking for temporary or permanent fencing, this Baygard polywire fence is a great deal for your money. Thanks to the PVC coating, it will offer low stretch and sag, as well as provide extra strength.
This fencing wire has a standard length of 1,312 feet; additionally, you can also choose among three other sizes. The black and yellow mixed color makes it visible from a distance. Since the product is made in the United States, the quality has not been compromised. The wire will not kink and can be re-installed as many times as you like.
The electric fence wire weighs about 2-kgs per 1/4th mile, which makes it easy to carry and extremely portable. To top it off, the wire carries a five-year warranty period.
Pros
Cons
If you are looking for a portable and sustainable electric fence for your cattle, then this polywire combo-roll is a good choice for you. The brand is known to offer 12 different types of braid, rope, rape, and fencing. This particular product by Gallagher is considered the best among them.
The length of the wiring measures up to 1,300 feet, with an additional 330 feet; this length is more than enough for your cattle fencing needs.
Its design has been UV-stabilized for a longer lifespan. Due to its wider polytape and ultra-wide color, it is clearly visible to people as well as cattle to keep them safe from any type of damage. Six wires of stainless steel material also offer excellent conductivity.
The wiring is easy to install and can be done within an hour. Depending on your requirements, you can also choose between four different size options.
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If you want to create an enclosure or paddock for your horse, then this portable fence by Farmily is a great product. It will deliver a durable operation and priced very competitively.
Apart from livestock and cattle, this product can also be used to make temporary fencing for other animals as well. The black and yellow color makes it quite visible and will keep your cattle in the boundary limits. The wire also comes with six stainless steel stands of conductors that can also function as an extra deterrent.
The electric fence post spacing design is also UV-stabilized to provide long-lasting performance for years to come. The wire can measure up to 1,300 feet, which is more than enough for a medium-sized garden. You can also wind and set the product up again for reuse without having to worry about rust.
Pros
Cons
Fi-Shock is a respected name for electric fencing. As such, the wiring is quite strong and will not break down or rust after exposure to weather elements. It is durable and strong and is ideal for conductivity, thanks to the six strands of wire conductors.
The spool is available with 1,300 feet of wire and can be used for all types of installations. You can either use it on a temporary basis or set up a permanent pasture, as needed. The wire is guaranteed not to rust.
The product is quite easy to install and the conduction levels are near-perfect. Your livestock and cattle will respond to it without you having to turn up the current too high. This is a reliable and affordable option for customers who are looking for something that is easy on the pocket yet offers decent performance.
Pros
Cons
The ElectroBraid fence is a fantastic product if you want to control your animals from running away. It is safe and will offer both physiological and physical boundaries to prevent your horses from running through the fence. Additionally, this fence has also been recommended by veterinarians for animal safety.
This fence wire measures up to 1,000 feet, which should be good enough for a medium- to large-sized garden or field. The chequered color is quite visible and will keep your livestock within the field’s boundaries. It can deliver optimal performance in all types of weather conditions like hot sun, wind, snow, and rain.
You have the choice to choose between three different colors – speckled, white, and black. It also features copper wires to improve the conductivity of the fencing. The electric fence wire spacing and design are perfect and match the standards for parachute harnesses and seatbelts.
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some advantages of Choosing the best electric fence for cattle
Some known benefits of electric fences include:
Cheaper alternative
Much like a conventional fence, an electric fence will be able to perform the same tasks, using fewer materials. Depending on the length of the fence, electric fencing is typically cheaper than standard fencing.
Easy to build
The lower wire tension and lighter construction make it easier to construct the electric fencing, especially in difficult terrains. You do not need any special ability to do this task by yourself. You also do not need specialist knowledge or the help of a professional. All you need to do is follow a simple set of rules.
Cattle eating grass through barbed wire fence
Durability
Since electric fences are not subjected to the same physical pressure from your livestock, they are expected to have a greatly extended service life. You can also extend the life of your old stock fences by using an electric fencing outrigger.
Universal application
Apart from domesticated livestock, electric fencing can also be used to contain several different species of animals like hippo, walrus, bears, elephants, and even snails.
Less stock damage
The electric shock from the electric fences will not cause serious physical injuries to pelts and hides. If your stock is forced to run through the fencing by dogs or fires, electric fencing is a lesser risk than conventional barbed wires that might cause harm to the animals, thereby incurring vet bills.
Flexibility
Electric fences are the best when it comes to subdividing a paddock for controlled foraging. These fences can be moved easily; hence, you will see electric fences mostly on dairy farms where high-density grazing is done on an hourly basis.
How to build an electric fence for cattle?
As mentioned above, an electric fence is one of the most effective types of cattle fencing. For installing a temporary or permanent fence, depending on your needs, you need to follow the steps mentioned below:
Choose the location
Look for the best location for your fence. The location will be based on the number of cattle you own and the size of the land. You also need to consider a water source. If you are not sure about the location, you can opt for a temporary electric wire.
Clear the area
Once you have decided on the area for your fence, you need to remove any debris or bushes from the line area. The power of the charge will not be strong enough if it grounds on debris that has not been cleared away. The weaker charge would mean that your cattle would likely test the fence and look for ways to escape.
How to build an electric fence for cattle
Install the posts
If you want to build a permanent post, you can utilize 3.5-inches steel or around wool T-posts and 8-inches corner posts (around wood). Once you have inserted the wooden posts into the ground, you can fill the dirt back firmly to hold them in place. To drive the T-posts into the ground, use a post driver. The electric fence post spacing needs to be too far from each other.
For temporary fencing, you can use small plastic or metal push-in posts.
Attach the wires
Using insulators, you can attach the wires to the posts. Wood posts make use of screw-in insulators while temporary and steel T-posts make use of wrap-around clips. You then need to feed the wires through the insulators that start at a corner post. For a permanent post, use a minimum of five wires; for temporary fencing, two or three wires should be good enough.
Connect the wires
For permanent electric fencing, you need to connect every wire to the fence charger and leave the rest as grounded wires. For temporary fencing, you need to connect every wire to the charger.
What are some electric fencing tips for maintenance?
For ensuring the fencing keeps functioning for a long time, you can follow some maintenance tips mentioned below:
Periodic volt checks
You need to walk around periodically and check all the various lines and points with your voltage tester. You need to ensure that you are getting a good charge in all locations; additionally, each line should be functioning as well. If not, investigate the problem and fix it. Occasional checks on the cattle fence post spacing will save you a lot of time and problems in the long run.
Weeds
Excess vegetation growing around the fence can cause problems. Vegetation is always filled with water and can, therefore, be conductive of electricity. Hence, the plant can cause a short if it touches a fence, thereby wasting electricity. For smaller areas, you need to keep the fence lines free of weeds. In the case of larger pastures, you might need to invest in a good-quality charger that will keep the fence running, even through the vegetation.
Winters
Winter can prove to be a challenging time when it comes to the maintenance of your electric fence. The grounding becomes weaker and the snow buildup acts as an insulator between the cattle’s feet and the ground, thereby causing a loss in conductivity.
To solve this problem, you can convert one of your fencing wires into a ground line. This will immediately switch it from a positive to a negative line. The basic idea here is that if the animal attempts to push through a fence, it will likely touch both lines at the same time and receive a shock.
Conclusion
From the above, we can say that the Baygard Electric Fence is the best product. The product is among the longest-spanning among all the others. Additionally, the PVC coating also provides extra strength to it. The product has been deemed as one of the most affordable options overall, without compromising on its quality.
You will find that the fencing is quite easy to install and spool, especially while changing pastures. With an 850-pound break weight, this fencing is perfect for all sorts of use.
