Cattle fencing

[Lowdown3]

Electric? Solar?

Currently most areas have 4' farm/field wire fence, some areas have a couple strands of barbed wire on top. Wooden posts, approx. 10' apart, corner posts every 60-80 feet. Don't know how cow strong however.

Was thinking I would place insulators on the inside of the wooden posts and run electric.

What works and has little maintenance needs?

[xdpatriot]

You're probably be fine with what you have but I'd run the electric of you have the means. Cattle are like anything else, some of them are trouble and some aren't. If you get ahold of one that won't stay penned, get rid of it. Good luck!

[610Alpha]

Electric? Solar?

Currently most areas have 4' farm/field wire fence, some areas have a couple strands of barbed wire on top. Wooden posts, approx. 10' apart, corner posts every 60-80 feet. Don't know how cow strong however.

Was thinking I would place insulators on the inside of the wooden posts and run electric.

What works and has little maintenance needs?

It depends. Are you looking at doing a rotational grazing system, where they are in a paddock for a little while and then moved on?

From what I have gleaned from the likes of Joel Salatin and Greg Judy, you have a sturdy outer/perimeter fence and then you use portable electric fencing to set up grazing paddocks.

My step dad has a neighbor that uses 2 strands of electric fence for his cattle, this is right next to a gravel road, no perimeter fence and no paddocks. Next time I am out there I will take a picture for you.

Have you checked out Salad Bar Beef by Joel? or Greg Judy's books?

Here is a short clip of Greg from spring 2014 talking about cattle and why you don't want them on too much fresh green and why some dry roughage is good. http://onpasture.com/2014/05/12/a-sp...pastures-farm/

More from Greg:

http://onpasture.com/2013/11/18/a-fall-visit-to-greg-and-jan-judys-green-pastures-farm/

http://onpasture.com/2013/08/19/a-su...pastures-farm/ This link also shows his pigs on pasture without flies on them.

http://onpasture.com/2013/04/01/grazing-through-a-drought-the-first-two-years/

Personally I would check out the following books by Greg Judy:

http://www.greenpasturesfarm.net/store.php?prodID=12033

http://www.greenpasturesfarm.net/store.php?prodID=12110

As well as Salad Bar Beef by Joel Salatin, check the reviews on amazon to hear more about whats in the book. Personally this is what I would rather be doing versus cubicle prairie dog.

[610Alpha]

I was just watching Greg Judy's presentation at Permaculture Voices 1 and his slide said "Proper gut fill on the left side in front of the hip bone", gut fill can change in 8 hours.

Long legged cows have a hard time staying fat in the winter time, he says.

Here are some pics:







When moving cattle stand so that you can see this side of the cattle as the go through the gate, this will tell you how well you are doing at managing their grazing.

Black cattle won't want to eat and put on weight on hot sunny days. A surface thermometer on the hide of black cattle with an ambient air temp of 104 showed the hide being 132 on the black and 107 on the red. Color of hide is important. Where heat is an issue black hide doesn't make any sense. Up North black hide makes sense.

[610Alpha]

I just heard Greg say that he uses Obrien step in posts from Kencove. You can hear about them from this article:

http://brinkoffreedom.net/homesteading/obriens-fence-reel-treadaline-step-post/

[610Alpha]

Double post...I had glitch on my end or something.

[Lowdown3]

Thanks 610.

That silvopasture was EXACTLY what I was looking at doing, just didn't know their was a name for it. Thanks for those links.

Probably will start small- 2-5 cows but will use rotational grazing. Should have plenty of pasture area to begin with.

Was thinking when I had to feed hay, I would corral in a couple of our larger fenced garden plots and put rolls of hay in there. Concentrate the manure and the wasted hay in soil that we use for veggies.

[610Alpha]

Thanks 610.

That silvopasture was EXACTLY what I was looking at doing, just didn't know their was a name for it. Thanks for those links.

Probably will start small- 2-5 cows but will use rotational grazing. Should have plenty of pasture area to begin with.

Was thinking when I had to feed hay, I would corral in a couple of our larger fenced garden plots and put rolls of hay in there. Concentrate the manure and the wasted hay in soil that we use for veggies.

From the way Greg Judy talked in one of those video links he unrolls the hay, this way as they wander around and eat they will spread their poop for you!! Now if you could get the cows to unroll the hay as well that would be awesome ;)

Happy to help.

[rockriver]

thanks 610...
lots of good stuff.. need to ask about a gate... but that might should be another thread.