Steer is lifting panel and escaping!

[LaurlaFarms]

I am trying to isolate a single steer to feed out and he has figured out how to get his head under the panel and just pick up the whole line enough to get out.
Thinking about putting 2-3 t-posts per panel down and wiring them to the panel. But that's a lot of work! So asking it they would hold enough? I really just want the corral to be temporary. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.

 

[GoWyo]

I am trying to isolate a single steer to feed out and he has figured out how to get his head under the panel and just pick up the whole line enough to get out.
Thinking about putting 2-3 t-posts per panel down and wiring them to the panel. But that's a lot of work! So asking it they would hold enough? I really just want the corral to be temporary. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.

Get your post hole diggers out and a breaker bar and put in some wood post. It will take about 2-3 t posts per panel if you want to go that route. You can pound a t post in about a minute so I don't see that the work is a big issue even in hard ground.

 

[Lucky]

How big is this steer you are feeding out? How big is the pen and what kind of panels are you talking about?

 

[Mighty Mouse]

A strand of electrified polywire offset from the panels might be enough to discourage that behavior. You might be able to attach offset insulators directly to the panels (may have to get creative) or you could set step-in posts inside the paneling.

Long term I would want to get the paneling secured well enough to reliably hold animals by itself, but adding electric wire could be a quick temporary solution.

 

[Brute 23]

I am trying to isolate a single steer to feed out and he has figured out how to get his head under the panel and just pick up the whole line enough to get out.
Thinking about putting 2-3 t-posts per panel down and wiring them to the panel. But that's a lot of work! So asking it they would hold enough? I really just want the corral to be temporary. Any ideas are welcome. Thanks.

It might be worth trying to make the panels look solid with old plywood or plastic or some thing like that. Just be prepared he may choose to go over instead of under nect time.

Isolating herd animals can be tricky. Even with pipe and bullet proof holding facilities they can tear themselves up pretty bad wanting to get back with the herd.

Tposts would possibly work. I am not a fan of tpost around working facilities at all though. I jumped off a seat on the back of a side by side one time at night and a tpost ran up the inside of my leg. It tore my through my jeans and cut me pretty bad on the inside of my leg. Luckily it stopped a few inches shy of a very import piece of equipment to my operation. It scared me, the farmer and every one there. They were all removed the next day. It's a good way to make a bad situation worse for you and the animal, imo.

 

[Brute 23]

The problem with securing portable panels to fixed posts is they panels tend to break and give. They are most strong with a little give to absorb hits. It's a catch 22 when they start going over or under them.

 

[LaurlaFarms]

Get your post hole diggers out and a breaker bar and put in some wood post. It will take about 2-3 t posts per panel if you want to go that route. You can pound a t post in about a minute so I don't see that the work is a big issue even in hard ground.

First my reply to your 2nd sentence: I am a 70 year-old wuss and don't want to pound t-posts if they aren't strong enough to hold the animal from doing that. So that leads to second question and decision on whether or not to make a permanent area to finish feeding 2-3 animals at a time. How big (or small) of an area would be ideal to do that? I am only going to ever have 2-4 cows in my small pasture at a time so only need to commit a small area to finishing.

 

[LaurlaFarms]

It might be worth trying to make the panels look solid with old plywood or plastic or some thing like that. Just be prepared he may choose to go over instead of under nect time.

Isolating herd animals can be tricky. Even with pipe and bullet proof holding facilities they can tear themselves up pretty bad wanting to get back with the herd.

Tposts would possible work. I am not a fan of tpost around working facilities at all though. I jumped off a seat on the back of a side by side one time at night and a tpost ran up the inside of my leg. It tore my heads and cut me pretty bad. Luckily it stopped a few inches shy of a very import piece of equipment to my operation. It scared me, the farmer and every one there. They were all removed the next day. It's a good way to make a bad situation worse for you and the animal, imo.

GOTOMITEY!!!!!!!! That makes me dizzy thinking about that!

A strand of electrified polywire offset from the panels might be enough to discourage that behavior. You might be able to attach offset insulators directly to the panels (may have to get creative) or you could set step-in posts inside the paneling.

Long term I would want to get the paneling secured well enough to reliably hold animals by itself, but adding electric wire could be a quick temporary solution.

That might work. He has done it twice now so he knows what works but zap on face might be the deterrent.

 

[coachg]

I think 1 t-post at every joint would make them secure enough without too much work or expense. Easier to me than running a strand of hot wire .

 

[wbvs58]

A mate with him will help, might also help with putting on weight if he is more contented.

Ken

 

[LaurlaFarms]

A mate with him will help, might also help with putting on weight if he is more contented.

Ken

I agree with you there Ken, and am aware of the benefit of feeding out two at a time but this only one we have right now.

 

[Lazy M]

Turn the panels upside down so he can't get his head under them

 

[LaurlaFarms]

WOW! I like people that think K.I.S.S. techniques! (Keep It Simple Stupid) !!!! Thank you!!!!

 

[Stonewall Joe]

It might be worth trying to make the panels look solid with old plywood or plastic or some thing like that. Just be prepared he may choose to go over instead of under nect time.

Isolating herd animals can be tricky. Even with pipe and bullet proof holding facilities they can tear themselves up pretty bad wanting to get back with the herd.

Tposts would possibly work. I am not a fan of tpost around working facilities at all though. I jumped off a seat on the back of a side by side one time at night and a tpost ran up the inside of my leg. It tore my through my jeans and cut me pretty bad on the inside of my leg. Luckily it stopped a few inches shy of a very import piece of equipment to my operation. It scared me, the farmer and every one there. They were all removed the next day. It's a good way to make a bad situation worse for you and the animal, imo.

what was removed?

 

[Brute 23]

what was removed?

LoL I just read it again. They pulled the posts and removed the fence.

It was a hot wire put around a corn field to keep hogs out. The tposts were cut in half or some thing so they were real short.

 

[farmerjan]

We have also turned the panels upside down so the calves can't get their heads under when penning to load on trailers when bringing them home from summer pastures.

 

[MurraysMutts]

The problem with turning them upside down, at least with bigger animals, is how athletic they become. They usually jump over when they can't go under.

 

[LaurlaFarms]

The problem with turning them upside down, at least with bigger animals, is how athletic they become. They usually jump over when they can't go under.

Geesh! Does anyone make a tall panel that goes to the ground??

 

[MurraysMutts]

Geesh! Does anyone make a tall panel that goes to the ground??

It's a bit of a conundrum huh!
I've seen hog panels tied to cattle panels that seemed to have worked somewhat ok.
I think the best ones are the portable panels made of oilfield pipe. But they are pricey and require a few people/ or a tractor to move them.