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Fence as a Management Tool

Fence as a Management Tool. by Rodney Todd OSU Extension Rational livestock control is the key to intensive management of pasture forage. Management A tool to control animals; forage growth, availability and utilization. A tool to provide forage plant rest and recovery.

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Fence as a Management Tool

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  1. Fence as a Management Tool by Rodney Todd OSU Extension • Rational livestock control is the key to intensive management of pasture forage.

  2. Management A tool to control animals; forage growth, availability and utilization. A tool to provide forage plant rest and recovery. A tool used to control feed cost. Economics Planning, Design and Construction Maintenance! Fence as a Management Tool

  3. Fences are personal property, not real estate. They can be depreciated, because they do. They are NOT permanent. Economics

  4. Like horses, there=s no such thing as a Afree@ fence. They require care and use, or they are more liability than asset. “Don’t tie up more resources in fencing than you can effectively use.” Economics

  5. Tubular steel panels $30,000 per mile Split Rail $20,000 per mile Buck and Pole $10,000 per mile Net Wire $4000 per mile Multi-strand High Tensile $3000 Barbed Wire, 4-strand $2000 per mile Single-strand Electrified Steel Wire $500/mile Single, temporary Polywire $50/mile/use Relative Cost

  6. Long-lived Non-portable Inflexible “Permanent” Fences

  7. Planning • Match fencing tools to Resources • Plan, monitor, revise

  8. Paddock Designs • Hub and Wheel • Central water, gathering point • Texas Block • Water in every paddock • New Zealand Block • Lane to water and paddocks • Strip Break • Front and back fence • Frequent moves

  9. Water limits paddock design. Water will control utilization. Water in every paddock ideal. Permanent water points become focus of nutrient export and animal impact. Lanes to water can become seasonal “sacrifice areas.” Water Location

  10. Round would be most “efficient” cost per acre. Squares better than long rectangles. What about wheel shapes? Straight lines preferred only for high tension designs. Low tension fences offer flexible shapes. More wires = More tension Paddock Shape

  11. At some point management requirement will increase faster than benefit of additional paddock numbers. Paddock size is relative to feed resource and animal numbers. “Think animal-time units (eg. Herd- days), not just acres.” Because feed resource (animal-days per unit area) changes with season, paddock size, duration of stay, or stocking rate must also vary. Paddock number influences REST period, the key to forage management. Paddock Number and Size

  12. Should separate soil types Upland vs. Lowland Dryland vs. Irrigated Well- vs. Poorly-Drained Sandy vs. Clayey Vegetation types Riparian, meadow, forest Different pasture species mixes Crop/Pasture Fence Alignment

  13. “Quality materials and proper installation will pay future dividends in labor and maintenance savings.” “If you don’t have time and money to do it right, when will you have time and resources to do it over?” Construction and Maintenance

  14. “Must create an effective barrier.” Follow time tested design and construction guidelines. Extension, NRCS Materials manufacturers, distributors Conventional Fences

  15. “The most important innovation in livestock control in history.” “Primarily a training device.” Electric Fences

  16. Choice based on Usage: Portability/Permanence Conductivity/Resistance Strength/Service Life Visibility? Simpler is usually better! “Multiple wires increase management exponentially.” Wire Types Important!

  17. Conductor Comparisons

  18. Insulation Properties Fasteners? Strength Longevity Spacing Fewer conductors = greater post spacing Posts vs. Stays Post Selection

  19. Use an adequate capacity charger for the type, material and fence size. Low Impedance = less than 0.3 milli-seconds Use battery type only when necessary. Solar chargers are convenient, but costly. Provide plenty of grounding! Charger/Energizer Selection

  20. “Miles of Fence”--almost useless! Joule Ratings not Standardized Joule = power X time (horsepower- hour) Joule = Watt-Second or .00000037 hp-hr Work Potential at Specified Resistance? Energizer Power Ratings

  21. Energizer Comparison

  22. Use logical test procedures. No substitute for accurate measurements. Electricity is rational, people aren’t. “When looking for faults and shorts, hunches sometimes work, if not see rules above.” Trouble Shooting Tips

  23. Voltage tester Essential for trouble shooting Digital meters best for fine tuning Ground checks Monitoring line losses Gloves Protect from wire, fiber glass and shocks Proper reels for conductors Post drivers DVM and/or Hydrometer for batteries HT Wire cutters Crimp sleeve tool Essential Tools

  24. Lighter weight materials More durable posts and conductors “Fenceless” fences Remote control/location/monitoring using GPS and GIS technologies “PCS for cows.” Future Fences

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