Electric Fence Suggestions?

[JenLamb35]

Due to the lack of rain and grass growth, we are wanting to temporarily move our cattle around to harvested hay fields. What do you recommend for electric fencing? Poly rope or regular wire? What chargers seem to be best? We've never used electric fences before so any suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

[dun]

Are they trained to hotwire? If they are I would just go with the 9 conductor polywire if not I would go with the poly rope or HT wire strictly for the visibility issues.
For chargers my preference is ParMak or Gallagher. The single most important part of the fence is the ground. If it's been really dry use at least 6 ground rods preferably 5-6 feet in the ground

[jerry27150]

i prefer red snapper 50 miler, parmac has a lot of trouble with lightning. i have one ground rod & hook ground to corral also, have never had a ground problem.

[dun]

i prefer red snapper 50 miler, parmac has a lot of trouble with lightning. i have one ground rod & hook ground to corral also, have never had a ground problem.

The ground recommendation is based on the lack of precip that was mentioned. Even in our mostly rock soil the charger runs 8-9k volts a half mile from the source.

[Caustic Burno]

I am running 3 Parmak solar unit's and have been for year's. I know one is over ten year's old, only thing I have ever done is changed out batteries.

[Douglas]

Like Dun mentioned you need them trained first. Put a hot wire inside your existing fence for training purposes for a few days. Tie some red flagging tape to the inside and then when they see the flag around the new hay field they will know the deal.

[Limomike]

I agree. We have used Parmak for years.. still working great... and go with the polywire.

[JenLamb35]

Thanks for the great suggestions. No, our cattle have never been around electric fences. I appreciate all the good feedback and advice.

[salebarn junkie]

I hook a couple of coke cans to the fence they usually come over and touch there nose to it and there trained, works really good on calves.

[JenLamb35]

Possible stupid questions here - I am reading that you want to put some wooden posts throughout the fence for support. Our span is about 1/4 mile on side and 1/2 mile on another corner and the rest is good permanent fence. Do we need wooden posts in that small of a span? About how far apart should we set the posts?

[Texas PaPaw]

Possible stupid questions here - I am reading that you want to put some wooden posts throughout the fence for support. Our span is about 1/4 mile on side and 1/2 mile on another corner and the rest is good permanent fence. Do we need wooden posts in that small of a span? About how far apart should we set the posts?

For polywire, I use 1/2 inch fiberglass rod for corners and 3/8 inch fg or stepins for line posts. I avoid steel posts as they are a short looking for a place to happen. If running alongside an existing barbed wire fence you can also use standoffs instead of line posts. No wood is needed. Spacing should be whatever is necessary to maintain the desired height. In some cases that may be 50-60 ft and in rolling terrain, gullies etc it may be only a few feet. Would recommend keeping it simple.

Remember e-fence is a mental barrier not a physical barrier. It only needs to be hot and at a reasonable height to retain trained cattle. Don't over complicate it.

[dun]

For polywire, I use 1/2 inch fiberglass rod for corners and 3/8 inch fg or stepins for line posts. I avoid steel posts as they are a short looking for a place to happen. If running alongside an existing barbed wire fence you can also use standoffs instead of line posts. No wood is needed. Spacing should be whatever is necessary to maintain the desired height. In some cases that may be 50-60 ft and in rolling terrain, gullies etc it may be only a few feet. Would recommend keeping it simple.

Remember e-fence is a mental barrier not a physical barrier. It only needs to be hot and at a reasonable height to retain trained cattle. Don't over complicate it.

Pretty much the same except we use 3/8 pound in fiberglass posts (with sungaurd) for the line posts.

[W-5]

What does it take to train the cattle, and how long?

[Caustic Burno]

What does it take to train the cattle, and how long?

About 6,000 volt's once on the smart one's two or three times on the dumb one's.

[Texas PaPaw]

What does it take to train the cattle, and how long?

Mine are trained in my receiving corral that is about 50 x 150 ft. Have a hot wire that runs perpendicular from one of the long sides. It only reaches about 15ft into the pen and is between the water trough and the feed bunk. When they are walking the fence they will encounter it and have to go around the end to get from water to feed. As CB said, it only takes once for the smart ones and 2-3 times for the dumber ones. Now the really smart ones will never touch it after seeing their buddy jump and bawl when it touches the wire. Just put the training wire somewhere they are sure to encounter it. Place it where it partially blocks the path to water and they have to detour around the end of the wire to get a drink.

One day will usually do the job but 2-3 days are plenty for small groups. The key is to make their first experience very painful.