If you run a cattle ranch, you know the importance of strong, reliable fencing to ensure your livestock all stay on your property. Unstable or unreliable fencing could result in the escape of your animals, which could be catastrophic for your operation.
With this in mind, here are some of the most common mistakes that occur with farm fences in Carlsbad, NM and how you can avoid them.
Insufficient corner posts
This is probably the most common mistake we see in fencing at cattle farms: either having undersized corner posts or corner posts that have not been installed deep enough, especially in areas where the soil is not as dense. The depth to which the corner posts are installed should be at least the height of the top wire on the post, if not more.
Post diameter depends on the strength of the fence. Lighter-duty fences might only require a four- or five-inch diameter, while a heavy-duty net wire fence might require an eight-inch post diameter.
Placing posts too close together
Post spacing is another common issue that can arise with fencing at cattle ranches. It’s not uncommon for people to use too many posts when installing their fences. This usually happens with people who are used to working with barbed wire, which requires one post every 16.5 feet. With electric fencing systems, though, posts can be spaced as much as 80 to 100 feet apart, which comes out to about 50 posts per mile. You can use a “stay” (a shorter post) to help hold up wires if posts extend to more than 100 feet apart.
Ground rods are too close together
Grounding is crucial with an electric fence. There should be three feet of ground rods per joule of energizer power. If the fence uses a six-joule energizer, you’ll need 18 feet of ground rods, or three six-foot ground rods each spaced at least 10 feet apart.
Trying to overdo the wildlife proofing
It’s not uncommon for ranchers to think they need to create a fencing system that’s capable of keeping out any form of wildlife so as not to interfere with their operations or their animals. But rather than creating a fencing system that will even keep out elk or other large animals, you should instead focus on creating a flexible fence. What you’ll find is that high-tensile systems on T-posts will result in the posts being bent and insulators being broken off. Instead, use flexible fence posts and you’ll have fewer issues with damage. Low-profile fences can also be a good idea, with the top wire located around 30 inches. This is low enough that these large animals will hit the fence with their legs rather than the heaviest parts of their body.
These are just a few examples of some considerations to keep in mind when developing farm fences in Carlsbad, NM. For more information about best practices for securing your cattle and creating strong, reliable fencing, contact the team at Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC today.