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

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

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

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

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

“Permanent” Fences b Long-lived b Non-portable b Inflexible

Planning b Match fencing tools to Resources b Plan, monitor, revise

Paddock Designs b Hub and Wheel Central water, gathering pointCentral water, gathering point b Texas Block Water in every paddockWater in every paddock b New Zealand Block Lane to water and paddocksLane to water and paddocks b Strip Break Front and back fenceFront and back fence Frequent movesFrequent moves

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

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

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

Fence Alignment b Should 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 b Vegetation types Riparian, meadow, forestRiparian, meadow, forest Different pasture species mixesDifferent pasture species mixes Crop/PastureCrop/Pasture

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

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

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

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

Conductor Comparisons

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

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

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

Energizer Comparison

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

Essential Tools b Voltage 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 b Gloves Protect from wire, fiber glass and shocksProtect from wire, fiber glass and shocks b Proper reels for conductors b Post drivers b DVM and/or Hydrometer for batteries b HT Wire cutters b Crimp sleeve tool

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