Bull Pen Fence

[MOFarmer2013]

I am in the process of building a bull pen. I am debating whether to use electric fence or barbed wire. To me, their are pros and cons to each. Any advice?

 

[dun]

Electric and really hot

 

[Bigfoot]

I have 5 strands of hot. I also give them a little sweet feed twice a day. It may not keep them in, but I believe it helps.

 

[jerry27150]

I use 4 strands of barb or 47 inch woven wire 11 gauge with another barb on top. I also run a hot wire inside of both

 

[skyhightree1]

Electric and really hot

Got that right. If you want I can show you pics of what they will do to barb wire only fence :lol: Its not pretty they don't respect it at all. Add 2 strands of hot wire in front of the barbwire is a different story.

 

[Lucky_P]

4 strands HOT here. He's never, ever attempted to go through or over.

 

[MOFarmer2013]

How hot do you guys have your electric fence?

 

[skyhightree1]

How hot do you guys have your electric fence?

Hot as you can make it

 

[dun]

With hot wire it also helps if the bull has been trained to it since being a calf.

 

[JW IN VA]

Woven wire with a barb on top and hot on the inside of the posts makes sense to me. If he's too much trouble he needs a new address.

 

[Supa Dexta]

How hot do you guys have your electric fence?

This won't get you a great answer. There's a bunch of cheap fencers out there claiming whatever XX kv, up into the teens. But what you also have to look at is the joules. A good brand fencer will have a lot more kick to it at a lower Kilovolt reading.

Like getting hit by a bicycle doing 30mph or a semi truck doing 30.. both are doing 30 (the kilo volts) but one packs a lot more punch (the joules)

I have a gallagher m1800 and even down at 5 or 6 kv its like getting hit with a pool cue.

 

[machslammer]

We have woven with a strand of hot right over the top of the woven and another strand about waist high. 7k+ is what we use. Bulls stay in and no problems yet, but our bulls are pretty calm animals.

 

[randiliana]

And our bull pen is 3 wire barbed. Not hot unless we are having issues. But, it is separated from the cows by our yard and stackyard.

 

[m&kCattle]

When it comes to bulls, fence is just a suggestion. Our bull pens are guardrail or pipe.

 

[randiliana]

When it comes to bulls, fence is just a suggestion. Our bull pens are guardrail or pipe.

Haha, this is true, lol

 

[Nesikep]

If you really want to keep them in.. old phone poles for posts, 4-5" (or bigger) rails, and 7' high.. that will keep pretty much anything in.. We have a bull pen but don't use it anymore, we throw the bull onto a gulley with a steer and a couple late calver cows and they're all happy down there.

I second what SupaDexta says about the Joules rating of the fencer.. the KV rating makes it arc longer distances, the joules gives it the kick,.. that's why static from your carpet can reach 30 kV but still only is a mild zap. Our fencer will kill any weeds that grow around the fence, and the thing will knock you flat out, especially if you aren't expecting it.