Choosing the Right Fences for Farm Animals

Cattle Panels in Australia

Livestock farming and fences are part of the same territory. In smaller areas animals need well organised and strong fences. Fences laid out wisely can help structure right sized pasture area and paddocks. Right fencing will serve another purpose of keeping livestock safe and not let them go astray. There are different kinds of livestock and each needs a different kind of fencing.

Cattle Fencing

Board fencing can be used for cattle but as the board fences are rough, cattle may use it for rubbing and destroy it over time. For cattle therefore, field fencing with heavy duty wire which is tightly strung is best. This fence can be four feet high. In some instances barbed wire can be used. This can be strung tightly from sturdy wooden posts.

Professionally made cattle panels in Australia can be customised for small areas. These panels can be in forms of heavy duty wire attached to sturdy metal posts.

Sheep and Goat Fencing

For livestock which comprises sheep and goats, fence needs to be made of wire fencing, which starts right off the ground with no space but has small openings in between. These fences can up to a height of 5 – 6 feet.

Hog Fencing

Hogs need water tight fencing and a welded wire panel works best to confine hogs or pigs. Also to prevent them from going under it, an electric wire which runs along the bottom can give good results. Wood fences are not that favourable for hog fencing as they can chew through it. A fence for hogs can have a height of 3 feet.

Horse and Pony Fencing

Mostly board fences are recommended for horses. Board fences are made of wooden posts which has planks nailed to it. Structurally, they are 3 boards planked into one and about 4 feet high. Depending on the livestock the fence will have variable height. For example for ponies and mini-horses, there should be a gap of 1 foot between the first board and the ground, to prevent them from rolling out from under it. Similarly, are horses which are large, the gap between the board and the ground can be of 2 feet. Likewise, stallions will need a fence which is up to 5 to 6 feet high.

It is strongly advisable to not use barbed wire at all for fencing in horses. They might like to chew or rub against the fence. A barbed wire or nails jutting out of the board can harm the horses. 

Preventing Diseases in Farm Animals

Cattle panels Australia

Farmers and people who own or have animals have a duty to care for their health and at the same time inhibit the spread of any disease between the animals, from humans to animals and vice versa.

The Australian Government has laid down a number of rules to ensure the prevention of disease in farm animals, to monitor any spread of disease and the control of same in animals. 

Some of these diseases fall in notifiable category and that implies - for any highly infectious disease the necessary government authority has to be informed. In Australia, if any farm animal is symptomatic of any of the notifiable animal disease, then it is the duty of the farmer, owner, the treating vet or the lab where it was diagnosed to inform the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA). It is a 24 hour service that mandates immediate reporting failing which the spread can be massive- impacting health of humans as well as other farm animals.

Preventing of disease in farm animals is very important, as diseases can spread in animals through various ways. The most common is the movement of animals within the farm. This mandates separate enclosures for farm animals. Also movement of people and machinery within the same farm or in-between separate farms can lead to diseases spread. Farm visitors can also transmit diseases if limited contact is not made necessary.

To control the movement of cattle in a safe zone, farm owners can use cattle panels. Cattle panels are livestock panels which are commonly known as cattle, hog or sheep panels. These are fencing materials which is made of heavy gauge galvanized welded wire. The strength, durability and their rigidness to withstand abuse from farm animals makes it ideal fencing material for pigs, goats, cows and other animals. These are low cost, light weight, flexible and easy to set up.  The best application of cattle panels is for portable fencing which can be a square or a circle Enclosure for keeping farm animals separate. A minimal contact limits spread of any infectious disease. For disease prevention, the cattle panels can also be put up to make Rotational Grazing Systems for the farm animals. Chicken or rabbit tractor is another use of cattle panel for disease control by segregation of cattle.

Cattle panels and the variants

Cattle panels New Zealand - New Bridge Services

Maintaining grazing area for cattle in your farm or homestead or ranch is not a simpleton task. You need to think from various perspectives. Security, feeding, grazing and other aspects require quite a consideration. But, cattle panels are much above all other considerations. The panels and fences are galvanised wire mesh constructed to make cattle acquisition much easier and manageable.

Wire spacing just like the gauge size also show variation. The panels are easy to install, remove, making pasture management quite efficient. Several variants of these panels are also used with t-posts. Furthermore, the immense rigidity and ability to manage real time threats and trespassing, gives advantage to cattle panels over other types of protection systems. 

There are also an exclusive range of portable fencing, circular enclosures as well as rotational grazing systems. The panels show up impressive tensile strength and provide an indelible protection. Cattle panels and its variants make up a practical enclosure system.  

New Bridge Services is a trustworthy company supplying and manufacturing heavy duty metal products for various purposes.  We are also the leading suppliers of cattle panels in New Zealand. We have a comprehensive product range, which includes cattle fences, LVL scaffoldings, etc. To know more, visit: www.newbridgeservices.com.au.