Fence as a Management Fence as a Management ToolTool

byby

Rodney ToddRodney Todd

OSU Extension OSU Extension

Rational livestock control is the Rational livestock control is the

key to intensive management of key to intensive management of pasture forage.pasture forage.

Fence as a Management Fence as a Management ToolTool

ManagementManagement• A tool to control animals; forage growth, A tool to control animals; forage growth,

availability and utilization.availability and utilization.• A tool to provide forage plant rest and A tool to provide forage plant rest and

recovery.recovery.• A tool used to control feed cost.A tool used to control feed cost.

EconomicsEconomics Planning, Design and ConstructionPlanning, Design and Construction Maintenance!Maintenance!

EconomicsEconomics

Fences are personal property, not Fences are personal property, not real estate.real estate.

They can be depreciated, because They can be depreciated, because they do.they do.

They are NOT permanent.They are NOT permanent.

EconomicsEconomics

Like horses, thereLike horses, theres no such thing as a s no such thing as a freefree fence. fence.

They require care and use, or they are They require care and use, or they are more liability than asset.more liability than asset.

““Don’t tie up more resources in fencing Don’t tie up more resources in fencing than you can effectively use.”than you can effectively use.”

RelativeRelative Cost Cost

Tubular steel panels $30,000 per mileTubular steel panels $30,000 per mile Split Rail $20,000 per mileSplit Rail $20,000 per mile Buck and Pole $10,000 per mileBuck and Pole $10,000 per mile Net Wire $4000 per mileNet Wire $4000 per mile Multi-strand High Tensile $3000Multi-strand High Tensile $3000 Barbed Wire, 4-strand $2000 per mileBarbed Wire, 4-strand $2000 per mile Single-strand Electrified Steel Wire Single-strand Electrified Steel Wire

$500/mile$500/mile Single, temporary Polywire $50/mile/useSingle, temporary Polywire $50/mile/use

““Permanent” FencesPermanent” Fences

Long-livedLong-lived Non-portableNon-portable InflexibleInflexible

PlanningPlanning

Match fencing tools to Match fencing tools to ResourcesResources

Plan, monitor, revisePlan, monitor, revise

Paddock DesignsPaddock Designs Hub and WheelHub and Wheel

• Central water, gathering pointCentral water, gathering point Texas BlockTexas Block

• Water in every paddockWater in every paddock New Zealand BlockNew Zealand Block

• Lane to water and paddocksLane to water and paddocks Strip BreakStrip Break

• Front and back fenceFront and back fence• Frequent movesFrequent moves

Water Water LocationLocation

Water limits paddock design.Water limits paddock design. Water will control utilization.Water will control utilization. Water in every paddock ideal.Water in every paddock ideal. Permanent water points become Permanent water points become

focus of nutrient export and animal focus of nutrient export and animal impact.impact.

Lanes to water can become Lanes to water can become seasonal “sacrifice areas.”seasonal “sacrifice areas.”

PaddockPaddock Shape Shape

Round would be most “efficient” cost Round would be most “efficient” cost per acre.per acre.

Squares better than long rectangles.Squares better than long rectangles. What about wheel shapes?What about wheel shapes? Straight lines preferred only for high Straight lines preferred only for high

tension designs.tension designs. Low tension fences offer flexible shapes.Low tension fences offer flexible shapes.

• More wires = More tension More wires = More tension

Paddock Number and Paddock Number and SizeSize

At some point management requirement will At some point management requirement will increase faster than benefit of additional paddock increase faster than benefit of additional paddock numbers. numbers.

Paddock size is relative to feed resource and animal Paddock size is relative to feed resource and animal numbers. numbers. • ““Think animal-time units (eg. Herd- days), not just Think animal-time units (eg. Herd- days), not just

acres.”acres.” Because feed resource (animal-days per unit area) Because feed resource (animal-days per unit area)

changes with season, paddock size, duration of stay, changes with season, paddock size, duration of stay, or stocking rate must also vary.or stocking rate must also vary.

Paddock number influences REST period, the key to Paddock number influences REST period, the key to forage management.forage management.

FenceFence Alignment Alignment

Should separate soil typesShould separate soil types• Upland vs. LowlandUpland vs. Lowland• Dryland vs. IrrigatedDryland vs. Irrigated• Well- vs. Poorly-DrainedWell- vs. Poorly-Drained• Sandy vs. ClayeySandy vs. Clayey

Vegetation typesVegetation types• Riparian, meadow, forestRiparian, meadow, forest• Different pasture species mixesDifferent pasture species mixes• Crop/PastureCrop/Pasture

Construction and Construction and MaintenanceMaintenance

““Quality materials and proper Quality materials and proper installation will pay future installation will pay future dividends in labor and dividends in labor and maintenance savings.”maintenance savings.”

““If you don’t have time and money If you don’t have time and money to do it right, when will you have to do it right, when will you have time and resources to do it over?”time and resources to do it over?”

Conventional FencesConventional Fences

““Must create an effective barrier.”Must create an effective barrier.” Follow time tested design and Follow time tested design and

construction guidelines.construction guidelines.• Extension, NRCSExtension, NRCS• Materials manufacturers, distributorsMaterials manufacturers, distributors

Electric FencesElectric Fences

““The most important The most important innovation in livestock control innovation in livestock control in history.”in history.”

““Primarily a training device.”Primarily a training device.”

Wire Types Important!Wire Types Important!

Choice based on Usage: Choice based on Usage: Portability/PermanencePortability/Permanence Conductivity/ResistanceConductivity/Resistance Strength/Service LifeStrength/Service Life Visibility?Visibility? Simpler is usually better! Simpler is usually better!

• ““Multiple wires increase management Multiple wires increase management exponentially.”exponentially.”

Conductor ComparisonsConductor Comparisons

MaterialElectricalResistance

Ohms / mile

BreakingStrengthPounds

ExpectedYears of

Life

Hi-Tensile Steel, 12 ga. 64 2000 30Maxi Shock Alloy 129 160 10+Poly Twine 193 185 5Premium Poly Tape 193 200 3Turbo Polywire, 9-Strand 209 200 8Super Wide Poly Tape 253 680 10Poly Tape 7286 185 36-Strand Polywire 10000 200 5

Post SelectionPost Selection

Insulation PropertiesInsulation Properties• Fasteners?Fasteners?

StrengthStrength LongevityLongevity SpacingSpacing

• Fewer conductors = greater post Fewer conductors = greater post spacingspacing

Posts vs. StaysPosts vs. Stays

Charger/Energizer Charger/Energizer SelectionSelection

Use an adequate capacity charger for Use an adequate capacity charger for the type, material and fence size.the type, material and fence size.• Low Impedance = less than 0.3 milli-Low Impedance = less than 0.3 milli-

secondsseconds• Use battery type only when necessary.Use battery type only when necessary.• Solar chargers are convenient, but costly.Solar chargers are convenient, but costly.

Provide plenty of grounding!Provide plenty of grounding!

Energizer Power RatingsEnergizer Power Ratings

““Miles of Fence”--almost useless!Miles of Fence”--almost useless! Joule Ratings not StandardizedJoule Ratings not Standardized

• Joule = power X time (horsepower- Joule = power X time (horsepower- hour)hour)

• Joule = Watt-Second or .00000037 Joule = Watt-Second or .00000037 hp-hrhp-hr

Work Potential at Specified Work Potential at Specified Resistance?Resistance?

Energizer ComparisonEnergizer Comparison

EnergizerMaximum

OutputJoules

Joulesat

200 ohms

Joulesat

5000 ohms

Batterydays/charge

clean

Batterydays/charge

weedy

Model 9B 0.13 0.06 0.10 NA NA

Model 20B 0.21 0.10 0.20 226 70

Model 42B 1.20 0.80 0.25 78 16

Model 55B 2.00 1.80 0.30 32 4

Model 88B 5.50 4.70 4.40 11 4

Model 506C 5.00 4.70 4.50 110 volt (plug in)

Trouble Shooting TipsTrouble Shooting Tips

Use logical test procedures.Use logical test procedures.• No substitute for accurate No substitute for accurate

measurements.measurements. Electricity is rational, people Electricity is rational, people

aren’t.aren’t. ““When looking for faults and When looking for faults and

shorts, hunches sometimes work, if shorts, hunches sometimes work, if not see rules above.”not see rules above.”

Essential ToolsEssential Tools Voltage testerVoltage tester

• Essential for trouble shootingEssential for trouble shooting• Digital meters best for fine tuningDigital meters best for fine tuning• Ground checksGround checks• Monitoring line lossesMonitoring line losses

GlovesGloves• Protect from wire, fiber glass and shocksProtect from wire, fiber glass and shocks

Proper reels for conductorsProper reels for conductors Post driversPost drivers DVM and/or Hydrometer for batteriesDVM and/or Hydrometer for batteries HT Wire cuttersHT Wire cutters Crimp sleeve toolCrimp sleeve tool

Future FencesFuture Fences Lighter weight materialsLighter weight materials More durable posts and conductorsMore durable posts and conductors ““Fenceless” fencesFenceless” fences Remote control/location/monitoring Remote control/location/monitoring

using GPS and GIS technologiesusing GPS and GIS technologies ““PCS for cows.”PCS for cows.”