Raising livestock in Carlsbad, NM is no picnic. Caring for a large number of animals is a time-consuming task laden with hidden responsibilities. Many people don’t understand the work that goes into making the products they use and love every day, let alone the effort it takes to care for the animals from which those products come.
For example, people who drink milk or enjoy cheese on a regular basis may not realize the extent to which the rancher who raised those cattle also had to protect them. There are many predators like coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats and even bears that would like to take a bite out of livestock animals while they’re out on the pasture, and it’s the rancher’s job to keep those predators away and keep the livestock well protected.
There are many ways to protect livestock, and one of the best ways is with a fence—but what is the best fence to protect your livestock from predators in Carlsbad, NM? Here is some information about the available options to help you make that decision.
Keeping up with the coyotes
One of the most problematic predators for livestock in Carlsbad, NM are coyotes. They are smart, agile and dedicated hunters that do not give up easily. They can climb, jump and dig to bypass barriers, and even squeeze through small openings that appear like they’d be impossible for them to fit through.
Coyotes can fit through a space in a wire fence as small as 4” by 6”. They can also jump or climb over fences up to 5.5’ tall. Even with these tactics, there are solutions to thwart these wily coyotes’ predatory efforts.
How can one defend against this versatile predator? The answer often lies in choosing the best fence to protect your livestock from predators in Carlsbad, NM. If fencing is good enough to protect against coyotes, there’s a good chance it will be able to protect against other predators as well.
Fence options
One solution is electrified fencing. It’s possible to add a top line and a trip wire that are electrified to discourage efforts to go over the fence. You can also add electrified wires within the fence as well, with alternating hot and ground wires.
Another solution that has shown promising results is electrified netting. This solution does not last as long as wire fences, but it is less expensive and is very successful at reducing attacks from predators on livestock in Carlsbad, NM.
Fladry fencing is another potential solution for keeping predators out of your pasture. This is a single electrified wire with flags attached to it, placed just beyond the existing fence. It works best in small areas for shorter periods of time, or in combination with strategic grazing.
When you’re looking for the best fence to protect your sheep, goats, cattle or other livestock from predators in Carlsbad, NM, contact the pros at Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC to find the best solution for your situation. We look forward to working with you!