Fencer's Journal provides Interesting and informative discussions about fencing livestock.

 

The use of electric fencing to control and especially manage livestock and wildlife is very popular and efficient but sometimes very frustrating. There seems to be a general familiarity and acceptability to this type of control. In contrast, there is also a poor understanding concerning the individual components that make a system work. This article has useful fencing information. ...WVU-ES Editors.

 

Deep cycle batteries can be rated in either cold cranking amperes (amps) or amp hours. However, there are many types of deep cycle batteries. True deep cycles are never used for starting vehicles and thus have no cold cranking rating.

A deep cycle battery should rarely, if ever, be discharged to less than 40 percent of full charge. To do so will damage the plates. So, a battery that is rated as 100 amp hours has only 60 usable amp hours. Sixty ampere hours is 60,000 milli-amperes. Most battery energizers will provide statistics regarding their draw per hour. It is usually given in milli-amperes. (Truly big ones use over 1,000 milli-amperes per hour).

An energizer that draws 200 milli-amperes per hour will take 6,000 milli-amperes (24 hours x 200 milli-amperes) out of the battery in a 24-hour period. So, that 100 amp hours deep cycle battery should run the unit for 10 days ( 60,000 milli-amperes/6,000 milli-amperes per day).

An 88B unit is an unusual energizer in terms of circuit design and function. Though only a 5.5 joule unit, even at low setting, the joules that it actually delivers to the point of animal contact greatly exceeds that of much larger units when the total fence circuit resistance is high. However, its voltage is usually10-15% lower than many others. This is a direct result of the unusual circuit design. It is my estimation that, even at low setting, this unit has about five times more energizer energy output available than is needed in most instances. That is always better than the opposite situation, however.

A word on the subject of voltage for electric fences. Few things seem to be so misunderstood by so many. It is not the voltage that deters an animal. If it were, static electricity would be a terrible thing, as the voltage contained in it often exceeds 15,000 volts (not a misprint). But the energy available in static electricity is minute. Thus only minute pain is felt. It is the actual quantity (joules) of energy that passes through the animal. The energy that flows is not proportionate to the voltage of a circuit. However, a minimum level of voltage is required to overcome the resistance of the animal/fence wire/soil, etc. Without adequate voltage, no energy will flow.

An example of this is a 12 volt battery. If a human or animal touches both terminals of a battery, no pain is felt, yet so much energy is available that if one instead lays a metal screwdriver across the terminals, sparks will fly, the metal will become red hot and even melt.

Why the difference between human flesh and metal? The metal has very low resistance ( in ohms). Therefore 12 volts are enough to "open the door" for energy to flow from one terminal to another. Compared to most metals, animal flesh has high resistances, so high that much higher voltage than 12-15 volts is needed to allow energy to flow. Thus, when we touch a battery's terminals, no energy flows.Thus no pain is felt. An electric fence circuit is between a battery and static electricity. It has higher voltage than the battery, yet usually less than static electricity. It has much higher energy potentials than static electricity yet less than that from a battery (which offers a constant flow, not in pulses).

It has been stated that 3,000 volts is needed for sheep, 2,000 for cattle or variations on this theme. Such statements need to be read with much more understanding than is usually provided. The same sheep fence in my area in the early morning in June may read only 1,000 volts at 7 a.m. and 3,000 plus volts at 5 p.m. At both times, the fence is probably delivering effective energy and voltage to an animal.

At 7 a.m.in late June many of the wires will be touching dew-laden grass. Thus the voltage is reduced by the leakage through the set grass and weeds.

But the feet and nose of both sheep and sheep predators are also wet at this time so their total resistance is also reduced. Less voltage is needed to "open the door" for energy to pass through the animal. One thousand volts may be enough for this situation. In fact, 600 volts may be enough (Remember, that animals have been killed by 220 volt circuits when touching alternating current, so, we know that 220 volts are enough to "open the door" to the passage of energy through flesh in optimum conditions.)

At 5 p.m. the grass is dry, and so are the animals' hooves and hair. Thus the animals' resistance to electrical flow has increased considerably, and more voltage is needed to open the door for energy to flow. Two thousand volts may indeed be needed to "open the door" for energy flow in this situation.

Energizers also vary. Some deliver higher energy levels at lower voltages to an animal than other energizers. So the guidelines are just that - guidelines, but not scripture.

So, when you read voltage, the total situation must be taken into account before concluding which is good versus not good. One needs to take several readings in order to observe a trend, and the readings are not always transferrable between energizers.

Animals react differently to an electrical shock. The work that I have seen and the experts that I have discussed this with indicate that the difference is not intelligence, but that canines, for example, received a much higher actual shock (in joules) if they touch the same fence at the same spot as your lambs. How can this be?

Remember that a canine has bare pads on the ground and a bare, usually wet nose. Thus his skin/flesh/foot resistance is lower (less ohms) than the lamb--which has hard hooves and usually drier head contact surfaces. Thus the lamb's resistance may be 1,000 ohms and the dogs only 250. That means the dog receives a much great percent of the delivered energy than the lamb.

The same effect can be observed by humans touching the same fence in bare feet versus in shoes. This trial (not advised by the way) must be done at the same time to the very same contact point for it to be relevant. The shoes increase the total resistance a great deal and thus decrease the actual joules delivered.

Please order online 24/7 or call VALLEY FARM SUPPLY at  717-786-0368

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Making use of the sun to power your electric fence line is both economical and sometimes necessary, if you need to power an electric fence which isn’t near a mains power supply.

Gallagher PowerPlus solar powered battery energizers provide effective animal control, and are a great way of making use of the sun as a natural resource. The following is a guide which will help you determine what you need to power your electric fence by the sun.  The components required for a Gallagher electric fence solar system are; a solar/battery energizer, solar panel, regulator, battery, earth and fence.

Solar selection guide
Solar power is the technology of obtaining usable energy from the light of the sun. Solar energy has been used in many traditional technologies for centuries and has come into widespread use where other power supplies are absent, such as remote locations or where mains power is not available.

A Gallagher solar panel (a photovoltaic panel) converts sunlight into electrical energy and this is used to charge up a battery. The battery allows you to collect energy when the sun is shining and store it until it is needed to power your fence.

Components of your solar system
1. Solar panel
Solar panels generate power by processing the UV light in the atmosphere. Depending on your power requirements Gallagher have a range of solar panels to meet your needs.

2. Battery
There must be sufficient capacity to reliably power the energizer during winter or reduced light conditions. The recommended battery type is a deep cycle (also called leisure or marine) battery.

3. Energizer
Gallagher has a range of battery energizers that are suitable powering a multiwire fence up to 60km.

4. Earth
The earthing system refers to the galvanised metal stakes that are placed in the ground near the energizer. The earth completes the circuit which is what allows the animal to get a shock.

5. Fence
Connect a lead set between the energizer and the fence ensuring that the connection is for powering the fence

Step 1: What size solar energizer do I require?
Permanent solar powered battery energizers are the logical choice for areas where there is no mains power supply. The energizer uses the battery to operate during day, night or during periods of low sunlight. Gallagher have a range of PowerPlus battery energizers that are well suited for permanent solar applications.

There are several factors which must be taken into consideration when selecting your energizer
• The size of the area/ how many paddocks that you plan to fence
• The type of animals you are wanting to fence
• The total distance of wire that you need to be electrify (either single wire or mutli-wire)
See your nearest Gallagher dealer for help on choosing the correct solar energizer for your property.
 
Step 2: What battery should I choose?
The key consideration in choosing a battery for a solar power electric fence system is the battery type and capacity (amp hours). There must be sufficient capacity to reliably power the energizer during winter or reduced light conditions.

If you leave the solar panel connected to a battery, the battery will slowly charge up. If you are putting in more energy than you are taking out, then the battery will eventually become fully charged. If this continues, the battery will become overcharged and be damaged by corrosion of its plates. To avoid this, all Gallagher solar panels have been regulated to maintain the health of your battery.

We recommend Deep Cycle batteries for your solar installation because they are designed to discharge and re-charge hundreds or thousands of times. A deep cycle battery will typically last two to four times longer than an automotive battery when used for powering energizers. A deep cycle battery is also designed to be deeply discharged over and over again.

Batteries need to be placed on a level surface and protected against extremes of temperatures- they should not be in direct contact with a cold surface such as the ground. Placing suitable insulating material under the batteries, or placing them in a battery box and burying the box, will also help increase their service life. Ensure that the battery has adequate ventilation to allow any gases to escape.

The electrolyte level (water levels) needs to be checked regularly (once a month for deep cycle batteries, and at longer intervals for valve regulated and flooded batteries). If the level is below the full indicator, then pure water (distilled or demineralised – never tap water) may be used to top up the level in each cell.

For further information contact your local Gallagher dealer or battery retailer for the most suitable battery for your solar system.

Step 3: What size solar panels do I require?
Depending on your power requirements Gallagher have a range of solar panels to meet your needs. Gallagher large energizers draw more current, therefore require more solar panels to charge the battery to a level it can satisfactorily power the fence.

Seasonal conditions also play a part as to how many solar panels you will need. The amount of sunlight can vary considerably depending on geographical location of the solar panel and the time of the year. You would need a larger solar panel if the location you choose has limited sunshine hours.

All Gallagher solar panels come with the option of a solar hardware kitset which attaches the energizer to the solar panel. This kitset is easy to assemble and allows you to set your solar panel for premium cover during sunlight hours. This is a permanent fixture and attaches to wood or steel posts to last years.

Step 4: What sort of earthing do I need?
The earthing system refers to the galvanised metal stakes that are placed in the ground near the energizer. The metal stakes in the ground are part of the circuit that is completed when the animal touches the wire. The completion of the circuit is what allows the animal to get a shock.  It is essential to have an effective earthing system. Visit our website www.gallagher.co.nz and download a copy of our Gallagher Power Fence™ Systems manual which will give you a detailed explanation on all you need to know about earthing.

Step 5: How do I connect the fence from the energizer?
It is important to gain a good connection between the energizer and the fence.  You need to have a lead out cable that is able to deliver the full power of the energizer to your electric fence.  Think of it like water being pumped through a pipe.  If the pump is capable of delivering enough water to fill a 100mm (4”) pipe, but your pipe is only 25mm (1”) you are not utilising the pump to its full potential.

When selecting a leadout wire/cable, remember the longer the wire, the higher the resistance and the larger the cable the lower the resistance.

Below are some key tips that you need to take into consideration when you are installing your solar unit.

It’s best to install your solar panel in an area which can be visited for general maintenance of the battery which needs to be checked once a month. It is also a good idea to give your solar panel a clean with a damp cloth to allow the panel to perform at its designed capacity. Cleaning is more important if you are in areas that are exposed to dusty conditions, or close to the ocean where salt might build up.

When you design your solar system it needs to be protected from livestock that might want to interfere. If the panel is to be installed on the farm fence it is recommended you fence an area off around the panel for safekeeping.

Setting the tilt angle for the solar panel is also important.  The solar panel should be set to face the Equator, i.e. North in the Southern Hemisphere and South in the Northern Hemisphere

The tilt angle of the panel is measured from the horizontal. A minimum of 15° tilt angle is recommended to minimise the build up of dust and dirt and to allow rain to wash the surface clean.

Handy hint: When set correctly, the panel will create its largest shadow at midday on the shortest day of its use.

Next month we will take a look at security of your property and Gallagher products which can be used to do this.

Electric fence technology is taking another giant step forward with the scheduled launch of Gallagher’s i Series Fence Energizer Systems at National Fieldays.

Featuring advanced fence monitoring technology, the i Series Energizers are another
world-first for Gallagher and highlight their ongoing commitment to solve the daily challenges of farming.

Gallagher Animal Management Marketing Manager, Mark Harris describes the i Series as the “biggest advancement in electric fencing since the launch of SmartPower in the mid-1990s”.

“These Energizers deliver so much more information into the hands of the farmer. It’s like having six people out on your farm constantly measuring the current and voltage of your fence and reporting the information back to you.”

Available in three models - M1200i, M1800i and M2800i - the new Energizers are a classic example of practical products offering brilliant simplicity.

Each model comes with an Energizer Controller that enables the user to monitor the condition of the fence and performance of the Energizer. This controller can be used to turn the Energizer on or off, set alarm thresholds, and make adjustments to the target output voltage. Mark says the ability to locate the controller away from the Energizer is a major bonus.

“Energizers are often hidden away in the back of a shed where they are not easily monitored and this can lead to uncertainty about whether saved pastures are safe or one stock class is being kept away from another. But a key advantage of an i Series Energizer is that the controller can be positioned in a separate more conveniently-accessed location where it is easy to view.”

Incorporating high efficiency components that deliver outstanding performance and stock control, i Series Fence Energizers make it easy for farmers to find and fix faults quickly and efficiently. Fence monitors compatible with the M1800i and M2800i units can be placed in strategic locations along the fence line, dividing a fence system into zones to make it quicker and easier to locate a fence fault.

To improve functionality even further, i Series Energizers are available with a range of optional features, including an SMS Energizer Controller module that enables fence performance to be monitored and controlled from anywhere with cell coverage. This means if a serious problem with a fence is detected; the farmer is notified immediately via a text message to your mobile phone.

The ability to control the M1800i & M2800i Energizer remotely with a Remote and Fault Finder means farmers don’t have to waste time returning to the Energizer to turn it on or off when they want to fix a fault. “If you are at the back of the farm fixing a fault, the last thing you want to do is drive all the way to the front of the farm just to turn the Energizer off.”

Mark says i Series Energizers will give farmers peace of mind that their fences are being constantly monitored for optimal performance.

Extensively trialled and virtually bullet-proof, all Energizers feature a rugged, water and insect resistant casing that’s designed to ensure many years of use in the toughest of rural conditions.

The flagship M2800i (28 stored joules) is the “mains-powered heart” of the new intelligent fence system, incorporating the Energizer, Energizer Controller unit and a host of compatible accessory products to make this the ultimate combined energizing, monitoring and fault-finding system.

It features a high efficiency adaptive control output, with alarms to indicate when fence or earth problems occur. An additional advantage of the M2800i is that the Energizer Controller can be installed up to 50m from the Energizer.

”All i Series Energizers have been designed to cope with greater extremes in temperature and are extremely tolerant of the wide range of mains-power fluctuations that can occur in rural locations.”

As well as ensuring consistent and high quality fence performance, the new Energizers also have applications for farm security.

When connected to the optional alarm controller and SMS accessory products, “If someone opens up an electrified gate or section of fence, the system will notify you straight away, even if you are away from the farm.”

He says the information provided by i Series Energizers will give farmers more confidence in the performance of their electric fencing systems.

“Good electric fencing is critical to the successful operation of any pastoral farm, so the whole aim of i Series Fence Energizer Systems is to give farmers the assurance that their fences are doing the job they were put there to do.”
 

Please order online 24/7 or call VALLEY FARM SUPPLY at  717-786-0368

Uses and benefits

Animal control is perhaps the most widely recognized reason for power fencing. Not only does power fencing keep domestic animals and livestock contained, it has various other important uses, including:

• Keeping wild animals out
• Separating different groups of animals
• Allowing rationing of crops and pasture
• Fencing animals off from eroding areas, trees, rivers and roads

Power fencing has revolutionized pasture management techniques and better pasture management means better profitability for farmers. Permanent or portable power fences are used to subdivide pasture to ensure even distribution of manure over grazing areas. In this way, pastures are kept fresh, short and palatable which ultimately leads to increased milk and meat production.

Other key benefits of power fencing:

• Affordable
• Easily constructed and maintained
• Durable, because of low physical contact
• Light weight and easily transported
• Easily modified
• Less animal hide and pelt damage
• Deterrent to trespassers and predators

For convenient, economical animal control, improved pasture management and more profitable farming, a Gallagher Power Fence System is the trusted solution.

Please order online 24/7 or call VALLEY FARM SUPPLY at  717-786-0368

Small Acreage Pasture Management: Part II

One of the first considerations in any grazing system is stock water.  Its availability will dictate which pastures you can utilize.  Some grazing systems drag tanks from paddock to paddock, but a more permanent water point that incorporates cross-fencing or a common lane to water more than one paddock at a time is more convenient.  It lets you keep a closer eye on the water source and cuts down the time involved in managing it.  If you’re in a cold winter region, don’t forget to run electricity to the tank location.  We all have better things to do than chop ice all winter!

Next, you will need some type of fencing, unless you’re willing to herd your animals from plant to plant.  Electric fencing as the most cost-effective method of controlling the time your stock graze a given area.  Today there are many types of animal containment systems, and the choices can be daunting.  Any system worth its salt will have technical advice available for the potential user; maybe even on-the-ground help.  Don’t hesitate to ask for help with a grazing plan, watering plan, and fence design and placement.

There are fencing configurations that allow control of many species, including horses, cattle, sheep and goats.  Another factor that will influence the fence design is the presence of wildlife. A fence that must coexist with deer or elk may have a substantially different design that one that does not. Let’s look closer at some specific designs.

Perimeter Fencing

For the perimeter of the pasture, use permanent, multi-strand, high-tensile electric systems.  The number of wires will vary according to the livestock you wish to contain.  Horses and mature cattle can quite often get by with three wires, while small calves, sheep and goats may take five or six.

The best posts to use in areas with snow loads and wildlife has been proven to be solid fiberglass. There are no plastic insulators to break, and the flexibility of the post helps to overcome side loads.

There are two common mistakes that people tend to make when trying high-tensile fencing for the first time:

Posts too close!

Wires too tight!

Post spacings of around 50 feet are adequate because of the nature of high-tensile wire.  The wires should be tightened just to the point of removing most of the sag between posts (around 150 to 200 lbs. per wire). This accomplishes two things.  First, this design is flexible, allowing the fence to absorb wildlife pressure and snow loads without breaking.  Second, less materials are needed so the initial purchase cost and the labor required to install the electric fence is less than conventional fencing.

Interior Cross-fencing

A mixture of high-tensile permanent and portable polywires and tapes often prove to be the best choices for cross fences.  Try to create paddocks by placing several permanent cross-fences on obvious topographical changes, not forgetting to include stockwater inside the paddock, or access down a lane to the water. If you are grazing irrigated pasture, ditches can also be your water source. Two wires are usually adequate for mature cattle and larger calves, while three wires are a better choice for horses or cattle with smaller calves.

Use portable polywires and polytapes on handy reels for your internal fencing.  There are many portable post types to choose from.  Plastic treadins with multiple wire lugs to be the most adaptable.  They can be placed on 30-50 foot spacings, and the wires tightened by hand.  On irrigated pasture with horses and mature cattle, one charged wire may be sufficient, but when on dry soils or winter-grazing on frozen soil or dry snow, you may need to use several wires, alternating the polarity between hot – ground – hot, etc. By carrying the ground out to the animal via a wire, you remove poor grounding as a source of problems.

Try not to graze and rest each paddock the same number of days regardless of the growth stage of the forage.  Aim for the shortest grazing period per paddock needed to harvest the available forage, say one to four days, then a minimum 30 day rest period during fast plant growth.  As plant growth slows, then adjust to five to ten days grazing and 60 to 80 days of rest per paddock.  You can see why multiple paddocks are needed to reach these levels of rest, but by subdividing with portable electric fencing, it becomes achievable.

There are also a few things to consider that really help in maintenance and troubleshooting.  The first is how the fences are energized.  The heart of any electric fence system is the power source, or energizer.  A 110-volt plug-in energizer versus a battery or solar unit is generally the best choice.   More of your dollars can go to power and not batteries, solar panels, etc.

A battery unit is a great choice if you don’t have 110-volt power available.  Also, get specific recommendations as to the size of the energizer by matching it to the job at hand: How long is the perimeter fence? What type of animal are you controlling? Does the fence run through high vegetation? Will you add on to the system eventually? All these questions will help your supplier match an energizer to your needs.

Lastly, consider investing in a digital voltmeter designed to monitor your fences and energizer. They are handheld meters that measure the voltage output of the energizer, or at any point along the fenceline. They are invaluable in diagnosing any problems that may crop up.

I hope this gives you a bit of familiarity with what equipment and techniques are available to help in establishing your grazing plan.  There is definitely a bit of work and a learning curve involved, but seeing your critters hock-deep in lush grass while your neighbors are forking hay (and forking out dollars, too!) can be priceless!

Please order online 24/7 or callVALLEY FARM SUPPLYat  717-786-0368

When Is A Scale Not A Scale? When It’s An Ernie™ 700

Scott Reynolds, a DVM at the Broken Bow Animal Hospital in Broken Bow, Nebraska, handles most of the cattle within a 70-mile radius of this central Nebraska farm community.  It’s a big job helping care for 15,000 to 20,000 animals per year.

Along with the usual care supplied by DVM’s, he helps his clients collect data - everything from sex, age, and pregnancy, whatever is deemed important by the rancher – and it varies by the season.

Spring and fall are our busy seasons,” he said, “and the information a rancher needs to run his business changes with the season.”

“We started trying to collect the data from ear tags with wireless readers then tried those small handhelds.  We had lots of problems.  Battery life was terrible, some of the equipment wasn’t sturdy enough, and data entry on those little handhelds while wearing gloves was just about impossible.

Screen view and service were also problems with the equipment.  Breakdowns during the very busy calving season were unacceptable.

Last year, he tested the Gallagher ernie™ 700.  “I’d known about the company for 4 or 5 years and saw their equipment in the area,” he said.

Although its primary function is as a scale, Reynolds liked the fact that it was designed to capture other data.  “We could quickly reprogram it to record any kind of data our clients wanted,” said Reynolds. “It’s a very flexible piece of equipment and reprogramming it is simple.”

The scale is moved constantly from farm to farm and subjected to some times harsh treatment.  Although it’s rugged enough to withstand a lot of abuse, Reynolds was concerned at first about service if he experienced a problem.

I had some service problems with equipment from other companies, especially when I would get caught in one of those automated answering systems,” he said, “but what I liked about Gallagher was I could call them and talk to a real person right away.  I’ve been impressed with their service and responsiveness.”

We use ernie™ like a very durable lap top and it works.  With EID continuing to grow, it will become more important to us.”

Just a few of the ways an ernie can help you.

During A.I. season, an ernie can keep track of all your breeding details. When A.I. is complete, the information can be downloaded from your ernie to your computer to create one spreadsheet with all your A.I. Records

Calving Book

Make calving easier by using an ernie to set up the fields of information you want to collect.  Simply enter the data and download your calving records into your computer. Saves you hours of hand entering your records.

Preg Checking

An ernie can also help with preg checking. Set up the fields you want to collect and enter the data. After downloading to your computer, you have one easy to read spreadsheet with detailed information on each animal being monitored. 

Hay

Use an ernie to help track your hay crop cutting and quality by entering the data into customizable fields. You can then use that information to better track where the different cuttings and quality of feed are being used.

Crop Monitoring

An ernie can be used as a monitoring device for any field crop — corn, beans, peanuts, cotton, any crop — simply build the template for the information you want to collect and monitor.

Garden/Farmers Market

An ernie works great to collect and maintain planting, production and sales information on your personal garden or your Farmers Market garden.

Please order online 24/7 or callVALLEY FARM SUPPLYat  717-786-0368

Cattle Update: Small Acreage Pasture Management

“Do you know anyone that has extra pasture for lease? I’m a little short this year.”  

It’s a common question heard all the time about a common problem; especially during the last few years of drought out West.  Sometimes the answer may be a little closer to home than you may think.

Those of us who pasture livestock - whether one 4-H horse or hundreds of beef cattle - are in reality, grass farmers.  We raise and care for grass plants which are then harvested by our animals.  That grass plant’s health, and ultimately the soil’s water and mineral cycles, are directly related to the type and duration of grazing we allow.  Notice I say “we allow.”  If your critters are dictating how you let them graze, there is a better way!

Grasses have evolved over eons in a direct response to grazing.  In fact, grass needs grazing, fire, or some other type of removal to survive.  It is one of the few plants whose growth point is located in its base, and not the top.  Most other plants, shrubs and trees growth points are located at their top, and if you remove it, their growth pattern is severely altered.  They tend to stool out or even curtail growth entirely.  Not so with the grass plant.  It’s built to not only survive grazing, but thrive with it, if managed properly.

Let’s examine what happens to an individual grass plant when grazed.  This plant has one mission in its life, and that is to reproduce by going to seed.  Most grasses stop or radically slow their growth when they head out and produce seed.  But, as long as soil and moisture conditions are favorable, this plant will continue growing and attempting to produce that seed every time it is grazed.  The key is rest; the recovery period between grazings.  If the plant is grazed a second time too quickly, before the leaf area is large enough to support growth, it has to dip into its root reserves, and the plant’s health and production declines.  This is actually a good definition of overgrazing: Biting an individual grass plant a second time, before it has had adequate time to recover from the first bite.  Giving that plant a little time between bites will build root mass, leaf production, and boost plant vigor.  If you don’t, the results are dwindling roots, slower leaf growth, the inability to recover from grazing, and lots of bare soil.

Do you know any good examples of this scenario?  How about your lawn?  Is it thicker and fuller than your pasture?  I bet it is because you’re “harvesting” it by mowing it regularly all summer!  You can do the same with your pasture by changing from season-long grazing to “rotational” or “intensive” grazing.

The easiest way to subdivide your pasture into paddocks and begin rotational grazing is with modern electric fencing.  Portable electric polywire can let you match the speed of your rotation to the growth of the plant.  This is a critical step because grasses grow faster in the spring when soil moisture peaks, and then slower for the remainder of the hotter and drier summer season. 

It’s critical to rotate “fast during fast growth, slow during slow growth.”

Think about this for a minute. If the objective is to graze the plant once, then rest it adequately so growth can resume without dipping into its root reserves before it is bitten again, that’s a rule that stands to reason.  A plant that is actively growing will recover faster than one that is in the slower summer growth phase.  

During the winter, plants are not actively growing and grazing will not hurt root reserves because they’re dormant. Grazing can be beneficial as it removes old leaf matter and clears the way for a fresh start for the plant come spring.

So, what benefits will you realize from rotational grazing?

Tighter plant spacings.  

Improved soil fertility.  

New plants started by hoof action.  

Faster manure breakdown.  

Less fly and pest bother.  

Higher production (meat, milk, wool, etc.) per acre.  

Stockpiled grass for winter grazing – less hay expense!

Many people report the ability to graze their animals at twice the normal stocking rate per acre, or more.  You can get started with rotational grazing with an inexpensive electric fence from Gallagher. 

Please order online 24/7 or callVALLEY FARM SUPPLYat  717-786-0368