Good Fences Make Good Neighbors ... And Better Producers

from January 2022 - Red Angus Magazine

A Time for Transformation

by Macey Mueller for the Red Angus Magazine For busy producers, there are few things more frustrating than cattle getting out or unwanted cattle getting in. It’s added time, stress and in some cases, it can reduce profi tability when calves are conceived at the wrong time or with the wrong genetics.

When northwest North Dakota rancher Jim Enge signed a long-term lease on 960 acres a few years ago, he immediately started improving the perimeter fences of the property to keep his commercial Red Angus cowherd in and the neighbors’ cattle out.

“The existing fence was literally one wire in some places and certainly i wire in some pl laces and d ce t rt i ai l nly not able to hold cattle,” he said. “The not t b abl le to h hold c t attle, , ” h he s i aid d. “The property is 15 miles from my home, so getting it secure was important for my peace of mind.

“The property is also landlocked with other pastures that share fences, and while you always run the risk of commingling cattle, a strong fence helps keep out unwanted bulls. When you’re strictly red you want to avoid issues with the neighbors’ cattle.”

With the help of Jacobson Fence, Enge tackled the project over two years, fi rst outlining the perimeter with a four-strand barbed-wire fence and then cross fencing with a two-strand high-tensile electric wire fence that high t -ten i sil le el le t ct i ric i wire fence th hat his cows know to respect. his cows know t to respe p t ct. Enge utilizes a rotational grazing program on the six quarters of land, where cows are moved through three different cells twice over during the grazing season. The program has allowed him to considerably increase his stocking rate without overgrazing.

“That’s the beauty of cross fencing,” he said. “You can usually increase your numbers without ruining a pasture because you’re taking the pressure off that one particular cell for an extended period of time.

“I have also seen our conception rate for the cows improve because we’re breeding in smaller parcels.” b breedi g ng in sm l all ler parc l els.”

Not only does new fencing provide peace of mind, it can add value to a pasture that is leased or on the market.

In Enge’s 48 years, he said the past 24 months have been some of the driest he’s ever seen. Cross fencing has allowed him to maximize his grass resources and maintain his herd numbers.

“I think we’d be in a lot of trouble if we weren’t rotating the cows like we do,” he said. “It requires a bit more labor, but the cows have become accustomed to it and we can keep it pretty low stress.”

As a third-generation operator on his family’s land in central Mountrail County, Enge is no stranger to fence projects. He took over the ranch and small grain farm at the age of 16 when his father passed and now works with two nephews, Dylan and Carson Enger. He has slowly but surely replaced the diamond willow post fence originally used on his family’s place with one that is sure to last even after he has handed the reins to the fourth generation. In addition to his pastureland, Enge has also fenced most of his crop fi elds to take advantage of aftermath grazing. He has developed water sources on each fi eld so that once harvest is complete in the fi rst part of October, the cows can be closer to his house.

“Not only can cattle graze the residue, but if you have a half section with 230 tillable acres, there’s a considerable amount of waste acres between the sloughs or prairies,” he said. “I started fencing the fi elds knowing there was a lot of extra ‘picking’ the cattle could be doing.”

“Both the rotational and aftermath grazing were critical in my decision to expand our operation and bring in my nephews.”

Enge admits the improvements he has made have been signifi cant fi nancial investments, but utilizing cost-sharing initiatives like the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program have made the projects more feasible.

“With the amount of fence we have added or replaced in the past few years, trying to do it all on our own would just about be cost prohibitive,” he said. “We worked closely with our local NRCS offi ce to develop a plan and apply for the funding.”

Enge also worked closely with Jake and Kacey Jacobson, who have done several of the fencing projects at Enge Farm and Ranch.

The young couple own and operate Jacobson Fencing mid-May to late fall to help supplement the commercial Red Angus cow-calf operation they run with Jake’s parents near Max, North Dakota.

Like Enge, they have come to appreciate the value in replacing dilapidated fences. The Jacobsons run multiple sire groups and raise commercial Red generation.

Conservation Service’s s Environmental sire groups and d raise e commercial Red

The Jacobsons build fence in terrain ranging from rolling hills to more challenging ground with rock and clay, and they work closely with their customers to identify sloughs and areas where the snow routinely takes out the fence.

Angus cattle in an area with several black bulls nearby, so they do their best to ensure their fences are strong.

“We try to be responsible producers who have set calving times and pull our bulls on certain days, so it can be frustrating to expand our calving season or end up with a black-hided calf,” Jake said. “Taking a discount at the sale barn on the few odd calves that don’t fi t is a little thing that adds up and makes it easier to justify the investment in good fences.”

The Jacobsons work primarily within a 150-mile radius from their home in McLean County, traveling the western two-thirds of the state to help customers make needed improvements to their properties.

Jake said some producers who buy or lease a pasture that hasn’t been used in a long period of time may need a full perimeter fence immediately, while others tackle a few miles of fence line each year until it is all replaced. value in building or replacing fence is often underestimated in an operation.

“When you’re running your own business like in ranching, it’s easy to get caught up in the little things you’re just used to doing and you don’t realize how much extra time can be freed up when you invest in a solution,” Kacey said.

“Several of our customers pasture cows several miles from their house, and there’s peace of mind that comes with knowing your cattle are inside a secure fence,” Jake added. “Not to mention the labor-saving aspect; it gets to be a real burden when your cows get out at 9 p.m. and you’re trying to bale hay or fi nish up another important project.”

For more information about utilizing EQIP fi nancial assistance to make improvements to a piece of land, visit nrcs.usda.gov or your local NRCS offi ce. //

“Taking a discount on a few odd calves adds up ... and makes it easier to justify the investment of good fences.”

“Three to fi ve miles a year is pretty average for our customers,” he said. “After four or fi ve years, you have your fence replaced and it’s a huge labor saver for the future.

“We also do work for several landlords who lease their pastures to other producers and are able to charge more rent for land with better fences.”

Either way, the Jacobsons agree the

The Southeast Red Angus Association wishes you a happy and prosperous New Year!

Announcing two consignment sales:

Both sales will feature bred and open Red Angus females, frozen genetics, bulls and commercial females consigned by progressive SERAA members.

April 2, 2022

31st Annual Grasstime Auction Cullman, Alabama

December 2, 2022

SERAA Fall Sale Perry, Georgia

Sale Chair: Jimmy Whitley – (205) 359-0154 Sale Chair: Andy Camp – (770) 601-3308 Co-Chair: Brian Lance – (706) 781-8639

If you are interested in becoming a SERAA member or would like a breeders’ list, contact Rhonda Deist (931) 625-2001.

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Angus Reference Sires Top-Coming-To-Town Production Sale

Saturday, March 5, 2022 Saturday March 5 2022

2 p.m. CST • Sitting Bull Auction, Williston, ND

Auctioneers: Butch Haugland & Amber Haugland 701-570-3604 or 701-965-6234 Ringmen: Loren Sorenson – 701-641-1140 Brandon Weidert – 701-240-1230 • Scott Bachmeier – 701-425-6651

Sale Offering

60 Purebred Red Angus Bulls • 1 Composite Bull 3 Red/Black Simmental Bulls • 3 Black Red Carrier Bulls 3 Purebred Black Angus Bulls 40 Purebred Open Heifers & 20 Commercial Open Heifers