the bulls got out - electric fence lesson

I shoulda checked.

Two bulls are in a paddock at base camp. I saw some fence near the shop and the popper. When the bulls were hanging around the house, Ryan went to get grain to bait them and I went to see what the issue was with the fence.

I followed the fence and at the very end ....

I guess I always did this:



Seemed clean and simple. The reel has a stopper in it and you can hang it off of different kinds of posts.

What I found was without a reel. The good news is that I did not see any attempt to knot the wire (knotting causes the wire to wear out fast). The wire was wrapped around a wood post and a loose spool was hanging from the side of the post. A piece of wire was resting against some barbed wire and shorting out the fence.

Ryan is off to find the reel and we'll redo the fence the way I've done it before.

While I was writing this (and Ryan was fetching the reel) the bulls got out again.

We mended the fence and have the power off. We found them. Apparently they have been trained to like grain. But when they got the grain, they didn't seem to care. They were finding plenty of growies to enjoy.

These are Tim's bulls. He says "set the grain in the paddock - they'll come back." So that's what we did.

In hindsight, I have to say, I like a REALLY good perimeter fence. So if anybody gets out, you know that at least you are not pestering your neighbors. Another perk of a perimeter berm.

I had enough people ask me .... here are the fencing supplies I recently bought:

1 116700 IntelliShock 77B Battery Energizer 498.00 498.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 132200 Ez Digital Voltmeter 34.00 34.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 207015 PoultryNet 12/48/3 (48" x 164'),... 175.00 175.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 201825 PoultryNet 12/48/3 (48" x 164'),... 165.00 165.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 253520 IntelliTwine™ 2.25, 2000 ft. roll 54.00 54.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 237300 EzeReel XL (complete reel) 41.00 41.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 321841 SmoothCote™ FiberRods, 4 ft. (3/8... 1.38 82.80
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
60 321851 SmoothCote™ FiberRods, 5 ft. (3/8... 2.25 135.00

Another good thing: when giving treats to cows I say "cows cows cows" a lot. Then, if anything awkward happens, then I can say "cows cows cows" and they come running.

The bulls went to the neighbors and the neighbor came over. He helped me and ryan get them back in the right spot. Ryan and I got the fence set right and turned the popper on. All is well.

One way to break the ice with your neighbour. I hear that asking for a cup of sugar also works

And the bulls got out again. This time it is entirely my fault. I should have walked the fence perimeter and checked for any other problems. I think this time there was a spot where the wire was running a little too high over a bit of low ground and they walked under it.

I went up to TL where the fence tester was to bring it back and test this fence to be sure. Only the pigs were out. I cannot be certain, but the way I found things: I think somebody moved the pig wires up so the pigs could get out. I'm not sure how else to explain that.

If you pull the wire TOO tight, it will drive the posts into the ground on the hill tops and pull them out of the valleys. I have had T-posts hanging 10 foot in the air when someone decided to tighten the fence like high-tension.

paul wheaton wrote:
1 253520 IntelliTwine™ 2.25, 2000 ft. roll 54.00 54.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 237300 EzeReel XL (complete reel) 41.00 41.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

60 321851 SmoothCote™ FiberRods, 5 ft. (3/8... 2.25 135.00

Paul, could you or one of your crew explain some of your choices?
I'm particularly interested in:

1 Why the IntelliTwine vs the IntelliRope. Is it because at 750 lbs breaking strength the cows will break through anyway?
2 Why SmoothCote rods over PigTail posts (Adjustability?)
3 Were these cows already trained to electric? If not, did you draw them in to get shocked? How?

I think you guys would qualify for the Defenders of Wildlife Predator protection grant available in Missoula Country. They will match you dollar for dollar. Check into it and let me know if you can't find the details. We received some help with our solar energizer setup I built, along with our portable netting for chickens and sheep.

R Scott wrote:If you pull the wire TOO tight, it will drive the posts into the ground on the hill tops and pull them out of the valleys. I have had T-posts hanging 10 foot in the air when someone decided to tighten the fence like high-tension.

...And, for all those who have had animals, get out, we had a real fiasco a couple of weeks ago. Read about it here - http://forestvoices.org/farmblog/firemountainsheepchase

Cj Verde wrote:
I'm particularly interested in:

1 Why the IntelliTwine vs the IntelliRope. Is it because at 750 lbs breaking strength the cows will break through anyway?
2 Why SmoothCote rods over PigTail posts (Adjustability?)
3 Were these cows already trained to electric? If not, did you draw them in to get shocked? How?

Well, I did have a 2 1/2 year old bull get out which is why I'm hoping to try again with electric. Luckily, belties are good tempered, and this was a mini but I still can't strong arm a 750lb animal. Frank(furter), the bull, did make my day though because he was the only one of my bovine I've seen eat an apple. Took 5 right from my hand.

Electric tape worked great great for the pigs despite being on ledge. Did not work for the cows though.

I'm ready to try again, even if its just to keep them from mashing the woven wire fence.
Anyone care to try to answer my questions?