Fencing and Watering Options Fencing and Watering Options for Your Grazing Systemfor Your Grazing System

2009 Georgia Grazing School2009 Georgia Grazing School

John W. WorleyJohn W. Worley

Fencing SystemsFencing SystemsPlan the system before buildingPlan the system before building

Choose the right materialsChoose the right materials

Use the right construction techniquesUse the right construction techniques

Don’t let a “temporary fence” turn into a Don’t let a “temporary fence” turn into a high maintenance permanent fencehigh maintenance permanent fence

Types of FencesTypes of FencesField Fence (Page wire, hog wire, woven Field Fence (Page wire, hog wire, woven wire) w/ barbed wire at top wire) w/ barbed wire at top – Perimeter and baby calf areasPerimeter and baby calf areas

Types of FencesTypes of FencesBarbed wireBarbed wire– Where electric doesn’t work wellWhere electric doesn’t work well

Types of FencesTypes of FencesElectric (Note vinyl coated wire)Electric (Note vinyl coated wire)

MaterialsMaterials

Perimeter FencingPerimeter Fencing– Recommend High Tensile, Class III Recommend High Tensile, Class III

galvanized wiregalvanized wire– Galvanized or Treated Wood PostsGalvanized or Treated Wood Posts– Class III galv. staples (1 ¾”)Class III galv. staples (1 ¾”)

Cross FencingCross Fencing– If truly temporary, use plastic posts and If truly temporary, use plastic posts and

electric rope or tapeelectric rope or tape

Components with Similar LivesComponents with Similar Lives

Painted Posts with Class III Painted Posts with Class III galvanized wiregalvanized wire

How Long Will It Last?How Long Will It Last?Painted Posts with Class III Painted Posts with Class III galvanized wiregalvanized wire

How Long Will It Last?How Long Will It Last?Galvanized Posts with Class I Galvanized Posts with Class I galvanized wiregalvanized wire

How Long Will It Last?How Long Will It Last?Galvanized Posts with Class I Galvanized Posts with Class I galvanized wiregalvanized wire

Electric Fence MaterialsElectric Fence Materials

Use high-quality insulators or fiberglass postsUse high-quality insulators or fiberglass posts

Use high-tensile wire (Class III galv.) if Use high-tensile wire (Class III galv.) if permanentpermanent

Rope, tape, or Rope, tape, or vinyl coated wire vinyl coated wire adds visibilityadds visibility

Fence ChargersFence Chargers(Controllers, Energizers)(Controllers, Energizers)

Mile rating is not necessarily a good Mile rating is not necessarily a good indicatorindicator

Look for ratings at different loads Look for ratings at different loads (ohms)(ohms)– 50,000 ohms (fence in good condition)50,000 ohms (fence in good condition)– 5,000 ohms5,000 ohms– 500 ohms500 ohms– 100 ohms (fence in poor condition)100 ohms (fence in poor condition)

At least 1000 volts @100 ohmsAt least 1000 volts @100 ohms

Cost per MileCost per Mile

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

Relative $/Mile

Woven Wire

Barbed Wire

Electric

BRACESBRACESand and

INSTALLATIONINSTALLATION

H BraceH BraceStrongest BraceStrongest Brace

Top member 2 to Top member 2 to 2 1/2 x height of 2 1/2 x height of fencefence

Pinning BracesPinning Braces

Min. 3 ft.

Min. 8 ft.

Pinning BracesPinning Braces

1/2” Galvanized Rod1/2” Galvanized Rod

Installing Brace WireInstalling Brace WireAllow wires to slipAllow wires to slip

Installing Brace WireInstalling Brace WireTensioning the wire braceTensioning the wire brace

Dead-Man BraceDead-Man Brace

Need Larger PostNeed Larger Post

Not as StrongNot as Strong

Easier to BuildEasier to Build

Stapling TechniqueStapling Technique

Leave Wire LooseLeave Wire Loose

Only Horizontal WiresOnly Horizontal Wires

Rotate from Vertical Rotate from Vertical (Rotate away from (Rotate away from slashes)slashes)– Right for right-handed Right for right-handed

staplesstaples– Left for left-handedLeft for left-handed

Post InstallationPost Installation

Driven wooden posts are strongerDriven wooden posts are stronger

Drive Small End DownDrive Small End Down

Post InstallationPost InstallationProper Tamping ProcedureProper Tamping Procedure

Electric Fence GroundingElectric Fence GroundingProper grounding of charger is vitalProper grounding of charger is vital– 3 or more 8-ft rods3 or more 8-ft rods– 10 ft apart10 ft apart– Separate from other electrical groundsSeparate from other electrical grounds– Drive and attach underground to prevent mower Drive and attach underground to prevent mower

damagedamage– Never Concrete OverNever Concrete Over

Ground Alternate WiresGround Alternate Wires

Lightning ProtectionLightning Protection

Good grounding is essentialGood grounding is essential

Nothing is “Lightning Proof”Nothing is “Lightning Proof”

Use devices sold by charger Use devices sold by charger manufacturer to maintain warrantymanufacturer to maintain warranty

Lightning ProtectionLightning Protection““Choke” and “Lightning Arrestor”Choke” and “Lightning Arrestor”

Separate (Better) Grounding SystemSeparate (Better) Grounding System

Protect Source side as well as fence sideProtect Source side as well as fence side

Energizer

EnergizerGround

LightningArrestor

Lightning Ground

Choke

Cut-outSwitch

10-ft apart 10-ft apart

At least50 ft

8-ft Rods

Protection at Power Source

Watering SystemsWatering Systems

Provide water in all locationsProvide water in all locations

Provide adequate watering spaceProvide adequate watering space

Provide adequate flow and pressureProvide adequate flow and pressure

Remember safety and sanitationRemember safety and sanitation

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

““The Creek”The Creek”Fencing across a creek is always a challengeFencing across a creek is always a challenge

Damage to creek banks impair water qualityDamage to creek banks impair water quality

Mechanical Watering SystemsMechanical Watering Systems

AdvantagesAdvantages– Put the water where you want itPut the water where you want it– Improve water quality (for the cows Improve water quality (for the cows

and the neighbors)and the neighbors)

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mechanical Watering SystemsMechanical Watering Systems

DisadvantagesDisadvantages– Cost (especially for multiple units)Cost (especially for multiple units)– Availability of power for pumpingAvailability of power for pumping– Mud around waterersMud around waterers

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Place Waterer across fence to Place Waterer across fence to provide access from both sidesprovide access from both sides

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Make sure adequate space is Make sure adequate space is available from either sideavailable from either side– One bowl for each 15 cowsOne bowl for each 15 cows– One ft of space for each 10 cowsOne ft of space for each 10 cows

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Place waterer in an area accessible Place waterer in an area accessible to more than one paddockto more than one paddockCould be a lane or a working penCould be a lane or a working pen

Waterer

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote Areas

Solar PowerSolar Power– Best for surface or shallow wellBest for surface or shallow well– Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy

daysdays

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote Areas

Solar PowerSolar Power– Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy

daysdays– 12 gal/day x 2 to 3 days x # of cows12 gal/day x 2 to 3 days x # of cows– Can be in storage tank or watering troughCan be in storage tank or watering trough

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote AreasRam PumpsRam Pumps– Another alternative where flowing water is Another alternative where flowing water is

present nearbypresent nearby– Works on the momentum of flowing waterWorks on the momentum of flowing water

Mud Around WaterersMud Around Waterers

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mud Around WaterersMud Around WaterersSitingSiting– High well-drained areaHigh well-drained area

MaintenanceMaintenance– Check Valves regularlyCheck Valves regularly

Heavy Use AreasHeavy Use AreasNRCS FOTGNRCS FOTG– HUA Code 561HUA Code 561– Watering Fac. Code 614Watering Fac. Code 614

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mud Around WaterersMud Around WaterersHeavy Use AreasHeavy Use Areas– Originally used to stabilize dirt roadsOriginally used to stabilize dirt roads– Roughly half the cost of concreteRoughly half the cost of concrete– Concrete “moves mud to edge of concrete”Concrete “moves mud to edge of concrete”

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Heavy Use AreaHeavy Use Area

Geotech Fabric – stabilizes foundationGeotech Fabric – stabilizes foundationCoarse aggregate 4-6” No. 3 or 4 gravel Coarse aggregate 4-6” No. 3 or 4 gravel Fine aggregate 2-3”Fine aggregate 2-3”– ““crusher run”crusher run”– “ “dense grade”dense grade”– SandSand– crushed limestonecrushed limestone– fly ash? Other materials?fly ash? Other materials?

Make sure edges of fabric are buriedMake sure edges of fabric are buriedPack MechanicallyPack Mechanically

Heavy Use AreaHeavy Use Area

Watering areaWatering area– At least 15 ft from watering trough for cattleAt least 15 ft from watering trough for cattle– 8 ft for sheep and goats8 ft for sheep and goats

Travel LanesTravel Lanes– 8 to 15 ft wide8 to 15 ft wide– Fence to force useFence to force use– Crown the center of lanes for drainageCrown the center of lanes for drainage– Avoid use by vehicles except for scraping and Avoid use by vehicles except for scraping and

maintenancemaintenance

Drinker TypesDrinker TypesTroughs (Concrete, Galvanized Steel, Troughs (Concrete, Galvanized Steel, others)others)– More access spaceMore access space– Usually lower costUsually lower cost– More storage in the drinkerMore storage in the drinker

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Drinker TypesDrinker TypesIndividual DrinkerIndividual Drinker– Fresher, cleaner waterFresher, cleaner water– Some are “freeze proof”Some are “freeze proof”– Less storage in the drinkerLess storage in the drinker

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Control ValveControl ValveCan be under water for Can be under water for freeze protectionfreeze protectionMust be siphon proofMust be siphon proofMust have min. pressure Must have min. pressure to operate properlyto operate properly

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply system

Need to pump daily need in 4 hoursNeed to pump daily need in 4 hours

18 gal/day/cow x 100 cows = 1800 gpd18 gal/day/cow x 100 cows = 1800 gpd

1800/4 hrs = 450gph = 7.5 gpm @ operating 1800/4 hrs = 450gph = 7.5 gpm @ operating head (resistance)head (resistance)

Can reduce pumping rate by increasing Can reduce pumping rate by increasing storage (especially usefulstorage (especially usefulin solar systems)in solar systems)

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply systemPump – operate efficiently at flow rate and Pump – operate efficiently at flow rate and pressure expectedpressure expectedPressure HeadPressure Head– Elevation ChangeElevation Change

Water level in well or pondWater level in well or pondElevation of drinker or Elevation of drinker or storage tankstorage tank(10 ft = approx. 4.3 psi)(10 ft = approx. 4.3 psi)

– Speed of water in pipeSpeed of water in pipe– Length of pipe Length of pipe

Limit drop to 5 psi Limit drop to 5 psi – Most home systems operate at approx. 40 psiMost home systems operate at approx. 40 psi– Drinkers need at least 5-10 psiDrinkers need at least 5-10 psi

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply system

SanitationSanitation

Anti-siphoning valves should always be Anti-siphoning valves should always be used on livestock waterers to prevent used on livestock waterers to prevent contaminated water from returning to well contaminated water from returning to well when pressure is lost.when pressure is lost.

Drinkers should be easy to drain and cleanDrinkers should be easy to drain and clean

QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?

jworley@engr.uga.edu