Fencing (young cattle)

Young cattle through the fence.
It has happened at many farms: young cattle entering the meadow for the first time, exciting, frolicking... not familiar with the term 'fence' and this enthusiasm can quickly turn into suffering. 

The calves can go on excursions to the neighbours (risk of animal diseases, etc.), can walk on the road, track, ditch ... with all its consequences. It is only after such an event that the importance of good fencing becomes clear. Thinking about a good fence should of course start much sooner. But what do you have to pay attention to, in terms of materials, electricity and poles? And how high must the wires be? We list the ins and outs.

Electric fencing
The basic requirements for making an electric fence are actually not that complicated or expensive. Everything you need is easy to order through our webshop.

How does it work?
An electric fence consists of a power circuit in which the current moves around. To make this possible, one uses an energiser with correct grounding, a fencing wire that transports the current and insulators that ensure that the current does not drain.

Supplies
• An energiser device that works and provides regular power surges.
• Fencing wire that conducts current.
• Isolators that isolate the current from the poles.
• Sufficient grounding.

1. Choose the right energiser, either a mains or battery device. If there is a 220 Volt socket, a mains device is always preferred. If you have young cattle grazing in the pasture where there is no 220 Volt connection, then a battery energiser is the solution.

2. Choose good ground posts with the right length, because grounding is an indispensable basis for every electric fence. If more than 1 earthing post is required, they must be placed at least 3 meters apart. Note that you usually need more earthing posts for dry soil than for wet soil. You can measure / test the current with a voltmeter.

3. Choose the right fencing posts, for example plastic fencing posts, and place them at approx. 5-8 m from each other. Make sure that the fencing wires stay taut to allow the fence to function optimally. For the tensioning of the electric fence Hofman Animal Care has the right tensioners. In any case, place sturdy wooden corner posts.

4. Select the right conductor. There is a large variety: cord, wire or ribbon. For young cattle, we generally recommend plastic wire with recognizable signals such as flags or ribbon fringes for the first few days outside. This way young cattle notice the electric fence sooner and can get used to it and won't break out. Place the fencing wires at different heights, preferably the first wire at 50 cm height and the second wire at 100 cm height.

5. Invest in a good reel! This way you can easily roll up and unroll the fencing wire. Our ribbon and wire reel is easy 'wear' so that it physically is not such a tiring job.

6. Make sure you have good wire connectors. This way you can optimally connect the fencing wires together, so the current conduction remains optimal.

7. The fencing wires are attached to the posts by means of insulators. Our insulators are available with or without a continuous core. In principle, we recommend an insulator without continuous core, which makes short circuiting unlikely.