Movies and television shows can make farming look like a piece of cake. Pick fresh vegetables from the garden when you need them, milk a cow with ease on a warm sunny day—while these scenarios are true for some farmers, those new to the farming industry are often shocked at the amount of time and dedication actually required to maintain crop fields or cattle. At the top of any farmer’s to-do list should be building an adequate fence. Ranch fences protect both crops and animals from outside dangers, as well as delineating property lines.
Whether you decide to use mesh, barbed wire, woven wire, an electric fence or something else, just make sure a stationary or mobile fence is in your overall farming plan! Here’s a guide to help you choose between the different types of ranch fences in Carlsbad, NM.
Know the purpose of the fence
Ranch fences are not the same as residential fences. On a ranch, fences are mostly used for containing livestock within a particular area. If the purpose of your fence is to hold farm animals, then you must take into account the species, breed and age of the animals:
- Cows and bulls: The majority of ranch fence types are suitable for cattle—especially barbed wire, woven wire and high-tensile fences. To narrow down your options, take a look at the cost, ease of installation and the lifespan of each material. Heavy posts with thick-gauge cable or electric options are suggested to pen bulls.
- Horses: If you raise horses, you want a fence that offers visibility. Avoid barbed wire, because it can tear a horse’s hide. Horses can get caught up in high-tensile fences, so avoid this type of fence as well. The most ideal fences for horses are board fences and woven wire fences.
- Sheep: Sheep need protection against predators. Electric fences are great at keeping predators like coyotes away. Barbed wire tends to get covered in wool, so this is not a good option for penning sheep.
- Swine: Strong, low-built fences are ideal for swine, as they can otherwise escape the pen by rooting the ground and get injured in the process. Whatever fencing material you choose for swine areas, it needs to be strong and able to hold up well against heavy use.
Types of ranch fences
Let’s review some of the most common types of ranch fences:
- Woven wire: This type has a number of horizontal lines of smooth wire help apart by vertical wires (known as stays). Most are 26 to 48 inches tall.
- Barbed wire: These feature two or more strands of smooth, galvanized coated steel wire twisted together. Two to four barbs are placed every few inches on the wire.
- High-tensile: These fences are very popular on farms. They are easy to construct, last a long time, cost little to install and easy to maintain.
- Electric: Electric fences are widely used, because they’re an effective and inexpensive option to keep cattle safe. They’re ideal for use as permanent or temporary fencing.
Call Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC for more information about quality ranch fences in Carlsbad, NM!