LIVESTOCK FENCE 101

21

April, 2017

Fence
Livestock
Hobby Farming

by Tracy Breen
If you live in the country, eventually you will probably get the itch to have some type of livestock. Almost every type of farm yard animal requires fencing to keep it in the pasture and keep unwanted predators out. The better the fence, the more protected your animals are and the longer the fence will last. The problem is knowing what type of fence to put up. There are a variety of fencing options on the market from high tensile electric fence to woven wire panel fencing. There are more options than there are days in a week. Along with researching the different types of fence before you decide on a certain type, you have to decide if you are going to put the fence up yourself or have it done. Having fence installed is the quickest and easiest option but it is also the most expensive which typically forces most of us to put up our own fence.

I recently interviewed Mick Bowman from Kansas about putting up fence. Bowman lives in the heart of cattle country and makes his living stringing fence for ranchers across Kansas. He puts up barbed wire fence, electric fence, chain link fence and even fence made from pipe. Bowman does it all.

According to Bowman, regardless of the type of fence you put up, the most important features of a fence are the corners and braces. “Corners and braces are the backbone of a fence. High quality corners and braces that are properly installed will last for years and keep a fence tight. A fence that is quickly thrown together and built with inexpensive materials will likely start to fall apart in a few years or less. Corners and braces are very important,” Bowman explained.

When putting in corner posts, Bowman likes to set his posts in concrete with three feet of the post below the ground and five feet above. His favorite style of corner post system is an H-brace. As the name applies, the corners look like a large H with two large posts and a brace going across the middle. “We use #9 wire doubled from the top of the brace post to the bottom of the corner post twice and then we wrap it for strength. We typically use hedge posts or steel pipe for our corners,” Bowman explained. A hedge post is an Osage orange tree which is known as one of the hardest, weather-resistant trees on the planet.

Different types of corner posts and braces are used depending on which part of the country you live in. Bowman uses metal pipe because it can withstand the extreme temperatures found in Kansas and the acidic soil better than other types of posts. “The summers are extremely hot and the winters are extremely cold. Combine that with acidic soil and most things will rot here if they aren’t metal.” For example, treated posts rot quickly in his neck of the woods. In other parts of the country, treated posts work well. Railroad ties are extremely popular because they are heavy, sturdy and last a long time. “When choosing posts, people need to choose one that can handle a lot of pressure. There is a lot of torque and weight being put on corner posts. This is why I take my time when setting the corners on the fence I am building. I often spend several days setting the corners to ensure that when I start stringing fence the posts don’t move and can handle be tugged on in all directions.”

After the corners are in, it is time to put up posts. One of the most popular types of posts used today is a T-Post. T-Posts often go in quickly. They should be put in the ground about eighteen inches. “When I am using T-posts, I space them about twelve to thirteen feet apart to get the desired amount of tension I am looking for. Every type of post is different. When I am using steel pipe for posts, I don’t have more than eight feet between them,” Bowman said.

There are a variety of post types on the market. On my farm, we have high tensile 5-strand electric fence. Our posts are made of fiberglass. They are durable, long lasting and can handle all types of weather. Some people use wooden posts, metal posts and even step-in plastic posts.

For extra fence support, Bowman often concretes in a hedge post after every fourth or fifth T-post. “Many of the ranchers I work for have large beef cows which can plow over fence. If people have this problem, we typically concrete a hedge post into the ground after every fifth T-post which keeps large animals from pushing a fence over. It adds to the cost but it will keep a fence up and in good condition for years,” Bowman said.

When putting up fence, the straighter the line between corners and posts, the better the fence will look. Some people use a chalk line to ensure the posts are in a uniform line; some people just use their eyes. Having a perfectly straight fence is more important to some than others. The straightness of a fence can depend on the type of terrain you are in. If you are building a fence in hilly or rocky terrain full of boulders and deep ravines, keeping a straight line can be more difficult. Obviously the straighter a fence is overall, the tighter the fence will likely be and the better it will perform but at the end of the day. It all depends on how much time you want to spend on a fence. If you have a lot of time on your hands, you can make sure everything is perfectly square and straight throughout the length of your fenced-in pasture.

There are plenty of different types of fencing on the market. Probably the most popular style of fence nationwide is barbed wire. Barbed wire is economical and effective at keeping most animals in and predators out. “I put up more barbed wire than any other style of wire fence because it is the best option for cattle. Barbed wire is fairly easy to put up, easy to repair and can last for decades,” Bowman said. If you ever wonder how long it can last go out west, consider the barbed wire fences that are miles off the road that were hung well over a hundred yards ago. In some cases, they are still used to keep cattle in or out of certain areas. Many of the styles of barbed wire used today are derived from a barbed wire that was patented in 1873 and 1874 by Joseph Gliddens from Illinois. Barbed wire became a staple of the farming landscape from that point forward.

Another type of fence that is extremely popular and economical is high tensile electric fence. This style of fence is simply wire cable that is strung between fence posts and electrified by a fence charger. When hanging electric fence, you need to use fence posts that don’t conduct electricity or use insulators on your posts. Insulators don’t conduct electricity and act as a guide that attaches the fence to the post. There are several different styles and brands. Buy the best you can afford. Inexpensive insulators break from the stress of the wire and need constant repair. I learned this the hard way.

Electric fence can keep in almost any animal. Even if the fence starts to sag over time, if it is electrified, most animals that have been kept in an electric fence won’t test it. Many farmers use 5 strand electric fence. Five strands of fence will keep in most animals, including goats and sheet. Dairy cows, pigs and other larger animals often only need one strand of electric fence to keep them in which is quick and simple to install. “Dairy cows don’t need much to keep them in. Once they realize it is hot, they stay away from it,” Bowman said.

If you purchase livestock and plan to keep them in the electric fence, you may have to train them if they are not used to an electric fence. “When I kept sheep or goats, anytime I added an animal to the herd, I walked them around inside the perimeter of the fence and they got tickled by the fence once or twice so they understood what it does,” Len Kriger, a former sheep farmer said. After they get poked a time or two, they probably won’t ever test it again.

If you are into horses, one of the best type of electric fence options is polytape. Polytape is smooth to the touch, easy for horses to see, and looks nice. Polytape has five small strands of electric wire running through it so it will deter horses from getting out and animals from getting in. In addition, polytape is more horse and livestock friendly than other forms of fencing. “If a horse gets hung up in high tensile electric fence, they can really hurt themselves. Polytape, on the other hand, won’t hurt a horse if it gets tangled up in it,” Bowman added.

Many farmers graze livestock on multiple paddocks instead of one large pasture. This method of grazing allows the grass within each paddock to rebound after livestock have been allowed to graze on it for several days. Many farmers have half a dozen (or more) paddocks. The livestock spend a few days on each paddock and are rotated to a new paddock. One of the best fencing options for this style of grazing is Enet electric netting made by Premier Fencing of Iowa. Enet electric netting is portable electric fencing that can be easily moved around from one spot to another. This style of fencing is very popular with sheep and goat farmers. Many farmers have a large permanent electric fence and then separate each paddock by using electric netting. Some farmers don’t have a perimeter fence; they move the electric netting wherever they want the livestock to graze. There are several styles of this fence. In many cases, this style of fence has eight horizontal twines. The fence is electrified by a solar powered charger or a plug in unit. If you want to move your livestock around to different pastures but don’t want to spend much money on permanent fencing, this is a great option.

A woven wire fence is a good fencing option, especially if you have smaller livestock like sheep, goats or pigs. These animals are known for being escape artists and can easily find their way out of the smallest hole in even the hottest electric fence. Woven wire fencing is also regularly used to keep whitetail deer in or out of certain areas. Many fruit farmers use this style of fence to prevent deer from eating their blueberries.

If you are looking for a fence that is pleasing to the eye, you can always opt for a wooden fence. A classic white wood fence is popular today with many horse enthusiasts . The downside of wood is it requires more maintenance than many of the other types of fence because it will need to be painted or stained regularly if you want it to last.

If you don’t want the maintenance of wood, check out PVC fencing. It looks like wood and doesn’t need to be repainted.

In the Western United States, wooden fence made of small diameter trees or posts are popular and look great. If you live in a part of the country that is dry and doesn’t receive much rain, a wooden fence made of poles looks attractive and lasts a long time. Building them, however, can be very labor intensive.

One of Bowman’s favorite styles of fence is the all steel pipe fence. This style of fence is by far the most expensive on the market but if you are looking for a fence that you only have to build once and forget about, this is it. “A pipe fence will last decades longer than any other style and keeps all animals in. However, they can be costly,” Bowman said.

The bottom line is there are as many different fencing options. Spend a few weeks out west and you will see more varieties of fence than you ever thought existed. The only thing that limits you when it comes to fencing is your imagination.

COPYRIGHT DANSHA FARMS 2016.

Sidebar 1: The Perfect Gate
Are you looking for the perfect gate to keep your livestock in and allow you quick and easy access to the pasture or your driveway? Check out the Ecklund Drive Thru Gate. This simple gate is made up of one rod that has a height adjustment on it that can be electrified. The gate is a bump gate. You bump into it with a car or truck and it swings open. After you pass through it, it swings back into place. It has a soft tip that won’t scratch your vehicle if it brushes against it. The advantage is you don’t have to get out of your car to open it and it keeps the livestock in. Learn more at www.ecklundgates.com.

Sidebar 2: Dog Fence
Do you have a dog that you want to keep away from your livestock or a livestock guardian dog that you want to stay with your livestock? Keep them in with a PetSafe Fence. PetSafe makes underground fences that you bury and a wireless fence that you plug in. It creates a perimeter around your house or barn and keeps your dog in where you want it. If they cross the barrier of either fence, they get an electric shock. Both systems are easy to set up and use. Check it out at www.petsafe.net.

14

JANUARY, 2017

Goats
Farm Animals
Purchasing Goats

Not All Goats Are the Same

Before purchasing a goat there are many things to consider. The information below will help you make a decision on what kind of goat will work for you the best.

Spring is right around the corner. It won’t be long before everyone will be looking on Craigslist for new critters. Some people will be purchasing chicks; some will purchase a new cow, and many people will be purchasing goats. Before you put your hard earned money in someone else’s hand, read my goat buying tips below. Not all goats are the same.

Many rural towns have livestock auction houses where people bring their animals to sell. The problem with auctions is many people bring their old or sick animals to the auction. Sometimes just looking at an animal you aren’t able to tell whether it is in good health, bad health, young, or old. You might get a deal at the auction but the deal will be short lived if the animal is sick and requires a lot of care. It could even die shortly after you purchase it. Don’t buy a goat at an auction.

Everyone loves how cute kid goats are. They make cool noises, hop around and are fun to watch. The downside is if you have never had a goat before, it is often better to start with an adult goat. If you are purchasing a dairy goat, you can get one that is in milk or you can purchase a pregnant one that will be in milk soon. I prefer buying pregnant goats because I feel like I get more bang for the buck.

When purchasing an adult goat, find out if it has been milked before. If you have never milked a goat and you purchase a goat that has never been milked before, it can be challenging at first. If you are new to dairy goats, buying a goat that has been milked can save you many headaches. The first few times I milked a goat that hadn’t been milked was a stressful occasion for the goat and I. Having a Dansha Farms milker will make the process easier.

When shopping for a goat or any livestock for that matter, do plenty of research on the different types of breeds. Not all dairy goats produce the same amount of milk. Believe it or not, the milk taste can be different from breed to breed.

After you determine what type of dairy goat best suits your needs and lifestyle, purchase it from a reputable breeder. Many breeders now have websites and many breeders post their animals on Craigslist. Research a few breeders before making a purchase.

COPYRIGHT DANSHA FARMS 2016.

Realize that goats are a lot of work. If you don’t have the time to milk a goat and take care of a goat, don’t purchase one.

28

NOVEMBER, 2016

Dogs
LGD
Farms Security

Finding the Perfect K9 for Your Farm

A Livestock Guardian Dog is the perfect dog for anyone who lives on a farm, has livestock and may need protection for the livestock or themselves.

As the rusted out minivan I didn’t recognize came pulling down my long secluded driveway, I didn’t pay much attention to who it might be. I was on the phone doing an interview for a magazine article. Very quickly my attention turned from the interview to the guy in the van. I didn’t answer the door when he first knocked because I was doing the interview. When no one answered, he knocked on all my doors. When he thought he was all alone, he headed for my work shop to steal tools. As he walked in my shop, I told the person I was interviewing I had to go…

I stepped out on my deck and yelled at the guy; he quickly ran to his van muttering something trying to prove his innocence and sped off. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the last time I had unwelcome guests. Since my house is secluded, I think many people believe it is an easy target. After several more uncomfortable situations, I decided I needed a guard dog.

The problem is I also have livestock. The last thing I wanted was a guard dog that preferred fresh chicken or lamb chops to dog food. I needed a dog that wouldn’t bother the livestock. I wanted a dog that wouldn’t eat livestock but rather protect them from coyotes. Yodel dogs are often on the edges of my fields and I didn’t want them coming any closer. I needed a dog that truly was a guard dog. I didn’t want a dog that barks but with a little baby talk is putty in anyone’s hands.

A Livestock Dog is the Perfect K9 for the Farmer

After doing a little research, I found the dog I was looking for. I purchased a Komondor which is one of the many Livestock Guardian Breeds. For hundreds of years, livestock guardian dogs have been popular in other countries. Livestock Guardian Dogs (LGD) are known for killing wolves and coyotes who attempt to take sheep or other livestock from a pasture. However, these large dogs haven’t been extremely popular in the states until the last few decades. A Livestock Guardian Dog is the perfect dog for anyone who lives on a farm, has livestock and may need protection for the livestock or themselves. Robyn Poyner from Missouri says she can’t put a price tag on her dogs’ value. Poyner owns Poyner Goat Company. She said, “before I had livestock guardian dogs, I was losing one or two goats a week to the two-legged predator (people). After I purchased a dog, I haven’t lost a goat since.”

My story is similar to Poyners’. From the moment I bought my Komondor, we have had fewer problems with people pulling down our driveway and I haven’t lost an animal to predators. I have goats, chickens, sheep and rabbits. Most of my animals wander around all day without fencing and my dog has kept them safe. Meanwhile, a friend down the road has lost numerous chickens and his are kept in a fenced in area. If you want to reduce your animal losses, get a LGD; it is that simple.

Finding the Right Breed

Finding the right breeder isn’t as simple. “Many of people who breed LGD’s breed them for show and although a show quality dog might look nice, not all of them have the guarding instinct in them,” Poyner said. “My dogs are around my goat kids from the moment they are born and protect them from everything including other dogs and people. People who want a LGD to be protective of livestock should do some research and buy a dog from a breeder who breeds the dogs as guardians.”

My Komondor was purchased from Melport Meadows in Wisconsin. Lisa Anderson and her husband own the farm and breed Komondors and Great Pyrenees. Their puppies are born and raised in a barn so the farm animals are part of the dogs’ family. “Our dogs spent a lot of time with livestock and so do their puppies.  When the puppies go to new homes, they are used to being around chickens and other livestock which is very important,” said Anderson.

Training the Dog

Training a LGD, like training any dog, is extremely important if you want a dog that will guard you and livestock. I have had puppies that kinda jump at chickens or other animals when I first get them,” said Poyner. “When people see this, they think it is cute. It may look cute but I quickly stop this behavior because as the dog ages, it will start to chase animals and you can’t have that if you want a dog to protect livestock.”

Teach Them Who is the Boss

The blessing and the curse of LGD’s is they are extremely intelligent. I have had many dogs over the years and I can honestly say my Komondor is probably the smartest. With intelligence comes some challenges. “From the time a person brings home a LGD, the puppy needs to learn who is in charge and what the boundaries are,” Poyner said. “They also need to learn the boundaries of the farm. LGD’s like to wander so if you want to keep them contained, a good fence is needed.” Like all dogs, every LGD is different. Some will stay put on a farm; others may have a tendency to wander. Training is absolutely necessary if you want a dog that will stay where you want it to.

A Breed for Every Lifestyle

There are thirty breeds of LGD’s and finding the right one for you can be difficult. The most popular LGD in America is the Great Pyrenees. The problem is this breed might not be the best breed for serious farmers and people who need a guard dog. “There are some good Great Pyrenees breeders out there who breed the dogs to be guardian dogs but many of them don’t have the protective instinct in them anymore,” said Poyner.

Because LGD’s are so intelligent, they have a keen sense for what is going on around them and who they can trust. When my kids are out with my dogs, my Komondor is never more than ten feet from them. The flip side is you really have to keep an eye on them when strangers come over. “One time my brother came over and went into the pasture when I was not here. When he picked up a kid goat, one of my dogs knocked him down. When he tried again, the same thing happened. The dog didn’t bite him; it was just warning him to leave the goats alone. I have had situations where the outcome was much more severe. Once I was walking through my pasture and noticed a shredded pair of jeans and a pair of sandals. Clearly someone was trying to steal a goat and one of the dogs intervened,” Poyner explained.

Purchase an Intimidating Dog

The nice things about LGD’s is in most cases intervention isn’t necessary. “When picking out a LGD breed, I suggest people get one that is intimidating looking so when a stranger approaches, just the sight of the dog makes them think twice about trying to do something they shouldn’t,” Poyner added.   Most LGD breeds weigh more than 100 pounds and are extremely tall. My Komondor has cord like hair that makes her appear mean. Many people who enter my driveway refuse to get out when they see her. The bark of most LGD breeds is very loud and deep which is very intimidating.

Will Your Dog Be a Pet

One tough decision all LGD owners are faced with is will the dog be a livestock dog to a pet. My Komondor visits the barn daily, rubs noses with my dairy goats often, walks the perimeter of our land when I allow it but for the most part, she is a guardian of my family. That is what I chose. I only have a few livestock that I breed and keep for our freezer so I don’t need several dogs that guard my critters twenty-four hours a day. Many farmers choose to have the dogs protect livestock around the clock. “If someone wants a dog to truly bond with the livestock and treat the livestock like family and protect them like family, the dogs should live with the animals full-time,” said Anderson. Poyner echoes the same thing. “We have nine LGD’s and most of them spend most of their time with my goats.” We have a dog or two that comes inside but for the most part, they are guarding animals.”

I believe I have the best of both worlds. My Komondor sits on our back deck most of the time. From here she can protect the house but she can also keep an eye on the landscape. She can see the chickens, goats and the sheep and if anything looks out of place, if anything makes a weird noise, if anything tries to sneak into the yard, we know about it regardless if it is one in the afternoon or one in the morning. It is important to note we don’t lose very many crops to deer since we got our dog. She doesn’t let the deer in the yard!

A LGD isn’t for everyone. They are large and intelligent. Those two things can create some problems but if you have room for the dog to roam, have the time to train it and no longer want to lose livestock or your tools, a LGD might be for you.

Sidebar 1 – Rescue Dog

Because LGD’s are so large and protective, people who purchase them sometimes realize (which is what happened with my dog) that they are too much for them to handle. Poyner has also purchased rescue dogs. They can be a fraction of the cost of a puppy; in some cases already trained and they make great companions or livestock guardians. If you would like to give a rescued dog a second chance, get online and start searching for rescue dogs that are the breed you are looking for. My rescue dog is worth her weight in gold. She protects everything that is important to me.

Sidebar 2 – Crime and Dogs

The man who tried to steal my tools was eventually caught. Over the course of several months, I talked to a local detective who had been dealing with burglary most of his career. I asked him about alarm system, having guns and having a big dog. According to him and the burglars he has interviewed over the years, a dog is the greatest crime deterrent. His exact words were, “A dog is a wild card most burglars don’t want to deal with.”

COPYRIGHT DANSHA FARMS 2016.

Poyner told me many of her neighbors have been broken in to over the years and she has never had a problem. That is because she has nine dogs that collectively weigh as much as an 18-wheeler guarding the place!

Hand Milking Made Easy

17

OCTOBER, 2016

Hand Milking
Health

I remember the first time that I “tried” to milk a goat. I thought it was going to be a pleasant experience. As I approached my barn and got my milking stand ready for the job at hand, I thought about how I had always dreamed about having a farm and living off the land.

‘This milking thing will be great,’ I thought. Almost everybody drinks milk so being able to milk my own goat and provide for my family is awesome. It is one less thing I will have to buy from the store and the milk is surely healthier. My little dream of being Old McDonald and living off the land came to a crashing halt the moment I tried to milk my goat. Her name was Bagel and although she was as friendly as a family dog, she didn’t like the idea of me grabbing her udders and milking her. It took a week of fighting back and forth before she finally got used to the routine and ate a little grain while I milked her, but the job took me forever.