fencing considerations for your new ranch

BY DANE REED, RANCH SALES | FAY RANCHES

When buying a new farm or ranch, it can be easy to overlook the potential cost, time, and effort of personalizing fencing applications. Fencing needs will vary widely from property to property, based on the previous operations of the farm or ranch, how the fencing was kept up, and whether or not the fence is on the property line. The primary consideration when choosing your fencing is its function, including lines, gate locations, and materials used. These key elements will be broken down for a better understanding of the cost, time, and effort involved in optimizing the fencing inputs involved for your new property.

When looking at your operation, consider how to optimize the ease of flow for your needs. Questions you will want to ask yourself include how you plan on breaking up the property for livestock pastures, farm ground, and areas you will want to have cut off from livestock, such as houses, outbuildings, roadways, and waterways where you may not want erosion to take place. Also, you might want to think of keeping out potential predators, if you want your fence to be aesthetically pleasing, and if your budget and timeline allow for the type of fencing you select. It may take some time to realize what is going to work best for your needs, so use caution, and keep an open mind for potential adjustments or additions to fence lines.

The best way to get started on planning your fencing is to look at a map and mark existing fence lines. This will give you a great bird’s eye view of how your fence lines work with the landscape. Check to see if you are utilizing your property in a manner that works best for your animals with respect to water availability and grazing optimization. This will allow you to get perspective on adding or subtracting interior fence lines. Also, mark out gate locations; when moving animals, strategic gate locations will allow easier, less disastrous drives. Wide gates positioned in corners or natural passages will be easier to move animals through than narrow, awkward areas. I like tall posts on gates in open areas, so the animals can see these gates from long distances; the posts act as a waypoint for lead animals. Wide gates are also necessary for large equipment, such as swathers, combines, and semis to enter or exit pastures or farm ground.

There are many different fencing options out there, but what is best for you? “Horse high, pig tight, and bull strong” is a somewhat outdated saying. We now have a wide array of fencing options that are animal-specific. Horses, cattle, sheep, and goats all require different applications, yet there are fence types that will work for all. First, we will put our focus on fence lines, as opposed to corrals or working areas. We will cover those down the line. For cattle fencing, I prefer good ol’ barbed wire. Four or five-strand barbed wire fences still work great for cattle, as they have for many years. I personally prefer a five-strand fence for cattle in areas that are along high-traffic roadways, and four-strand fences in areas located in out-of-the-way areas. A bottom wire at 16” from ground level and top wire at 42” is optimal for keeping mother cows and most bulls in. Calves, which are probably going to get out anyway, can get back in to see mama with relative ease. This type of fencing is wildlife-friendly as well.

Horse fencing options have exploded in the past couple of decades, from multiple electric fence options to no-climb horse fence, vinyl, PVC, wood, or metal continuous fence. The questions you must ask yourself are, “What look am I going for– modern or rustic? What is my budget?” Specialty horse fencing can be the costliest fencing on the ranch. Your budget and your timeline will end up having a lot of influence on your fencing decisions.

Sheep and goat fencing usually comes down to field fences, or “woven wire.” This type of fencing can be used in the cattle spectrum as well, but it is difficult to repair and is not wildlifefriendly, so it is usually not recommended by fencers unless your goal is to keep sheep or goats in these designated areas.

Corrals and working areas need to be strong, and well thought out. The difference between a smooth day working cows and a long, miserable day with wreck after wreck can come down to design and materials used. A well-seasoned cattle rancher or an experienced fencer will be your best friend at this stage in the game. Most ranches are going to have varied designs, depending on area availability and the number of cattle which will be running through. In general, there are standards of easy-flowing corral design. Materials can vary for corrals, but the most common are wood, steel, and guard-rail—overall, strong materials. Even so, you may want to reinforce areas where your animals will be leaning into or pushing against the fence with an additional layer of welded wire, cattle panel, or pieces of tin.

Finally, be sure to inspect your fencing at least annually, and keep up with maintenance and repairs before any major gaps develop. This is not only a good idea for your animals and the wildlife, but it can be a huge time saver for you, as you won’t have to move escaped animals back into the pastures to which they belong.

In closing, it is important to take note of checking out the condition, type, and locations of the fences on your new ranch. Changes and repairs will most likely be necessary for any newly purchased property, so don’t be overwhelmed when reviewing fences and corrals. Getting advice from others is a good option; an outside perspective from an experienced fencer, rancher, or neighbor can provide a wealth of knowledge and ideas for making your ranch work for you. And always remember, “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors.”