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Is 4ft high fence tall enough

5 feet and 5 wire is better with a hot strand on the top and it doesn't hurt to have one lower.Your 2 head are nice looking little fellas.

Vito
 
Many, many years ago, there was a definition of a "legal line fence" in Wis. It require six strands of barbed wire. The height was at least five feet tall. I have a lot of these fences on my farm to this day, some almost as good as the day they were built. My dad was an expert at fence building. He used heavy cedar for end posts and bracing and heavy steel for line posts. The end posts tend to rot off at ground level after 40 years or so. The steel rust off at ground level after maybe 60 years but I'm talking really heavy duty steel posts which might not be available anymore.
 
Got a neighbor that has beef cattle (look like limousine) in a 2 strand smooth wire HT. One at 1 meter and one at 1/2 meter and electric on both. Been here 12 years and never saw a cow out.

Dave
 
Fence hight depneds on alot of things. Temperment of the cattle, whats on the other side, how well fed they are, size of cattle, type of fence, how many volts on an electric fence, ect.

Just to C.Y.A. you might want to talk to your farm insurance agent. If your cows get out, cause a wreck, and kill a bus load of nuns and little bunnies you don't want to find out your insurance does not cover (insert type of fence here) fence.

Good luck.

Dave
 
4' three strand barb is the norm for about all cattle pastures I see in cattle country in Kansas and elsewhere. Check with your local extension office as to what is recommended in your area.
 


What is on the other side of the fence is a consideration. You need better fence next to a corn field than you need next to something less desirable to the palat. If you have a cow in heat and a good bull on the other side of the fence, nature wins.
 
One thing to keep in mind is this:

No matter how good the fence is, if your cattle are hungry they'll find a way out. Espescially if there is some really tasty stuff right next to but on the other side of the fence.

Donovan from Wisconsin
 
What I have learned is a full dinner plate will keep the cows content. A hungry cow will test all fences. My fences are about 5' with electric strands as well, but I know many people that keep a heck of a lot of cows in with just one strand of hot wire.
 
Kentucky line fence law KRS 256.010 states the legal minimum is 4 feet of wire, stone, plank, brick, or hedge, etc. That covers you legally. I use 48 inch woven wire, 6 inches off the ground, with a barb 6 inches above the fence for a net effective barrier of 5 feet. Interior fence, I use 4 strands of barb wire or a single strand of electric. Never had a cow, or a calf for that matter that had learned what it was, cross even one strand of electric.
 
I agree with VITO. 5 ft is what I have. With 5 ft fence, you can have one strand broke and still be in OK shape for a few days until weather/time allows it to be fixed. DOUG
 
Agree Dave. About everybody with cattle around here puts them out all winter on wheat grass or milo stubble with just one hot wire.
 
As said it all depends on the animal and how much it has to eat and what s on the other side of the fence . I ve got some cross fences that ar nt much more than a couple dropping strain of barbwire but it s running through the woods and there s nothing on the other side . I penned up 2 steers that did nt go through that wire go over a pipe gate and hardly scratched the top of it cause they was nt happy . If a cow wants out it will get out . Keeping them fat and happy is the main prevention to chasing cows . One more wire on top would nt cost much .
 
Bill(Wis) there is still a legal defination of a fence in WI. Not quite as high as you remember though, no idea when that changed.

lgc.uwex.edu//program/pdf/fact13.pdf
 
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