advice needed on electric fences

I need some advice on electric fences. The tax man is at the door wanting to change the tax classification on 40 acres I own from agricultural land to investment property so they can get more tax money to spend. If I put a couple of cows on the land that"ll help me keep the land classified as agricultural grazing land. Fencing that with 3 strand barbed wire will be pretty pricey. Will a single strand electric fence keep 6 cows contained? There"s adequate water and grass to keep them fed and I"d only keep them on the land for the summer months. All suggestions will be appreciated (but no, I can"t shoot the tax man…)

Thanks!

A single strand might keep them in, but I have seen cows that will go through a hotwired high tensil fence BOTH ways to get out and get back in.

If the ground is tillable maybe leasing it out might be an alternative.

Jack,

Yes, a single strand electric fence will generally contain cattle as long as they have access to grass and water. I actually run three strands on my electric fence. The center strand is at ground potential and the top and bottom strands are electrified.

Having said that, some cows sometimes get it through their heads that they simply must go where you don't want them to go. When that happens, they can and will push through almost anything.

If the area they would get out into isn't a dangerous environment (roads, residential areas, etc.) I'd go with the electric fence. If the area they would get into is a dangerous environment, I wouldn't rely on an electric fence, and especially I wouldn't rely on a single strand.

Good luck,

Tom in TN

Just don't PeeEEEEeeee on it.

My brother peed on an electric fence about 60 years ago, and still talks about it. LOL.

Why not have some one bale the grass on shares that way you both make out and it is then called a farm. Hay is one of many crops

My grandad kept alot more cows on alot smaller spot of ground than that for years with a single hot barb wire. I don't have the time mess with the fence every day like he did so my perimeter fence is "for the most part" 3 strand smooth HT. All my interior cross fences are single strand hot barb wires. I have never had a cow mess with a single hot wire if it was over 1.5kV. The problem is with a single wire is baby calves will slip under it and get in the neigbor's bean field. With that said, if you have cows some where else you could put dry cows there or bring a few of you calmest weaned calves that have been weaned behind a hot wire out and put them there for the summer. If you are just want'n it mowed and depending on weather/type of forage/ect 15 to 20 calves will not be able to eat as fast as the grass will grow, will put alot of lbs over a summer for little cost, and will look like a farm from the road.

Total flip side of this if you don't want to mess with it, lease it! Some one will fence it for a 5 year graze'n lease or some one will cut the hay off it for you. Some one will cut it on the shares, you put your 1/3 on the side of the road with a for sale sign on it. Bam! You have a real life working hay farm.


Good luck.

Dave

I did it when I was a kid. NEVER do it again. I think the wind blew the stream and it hit the fence, when home crying!!!

Keep the wire tight - and a good charger on it like a Gallagher with a good ground and you should't have any problems.


Howard

I guarantee a good electric will hold them better than a 3 strand barbed wire- 4 wire barb is a minimun, and 5 is better.

That being said, I'd side with the guys urging hay on shares. I think you'll make as much money, and a lot less hassle. It only takes a couple of calls home from work to round 'em up to really put a crimp in your attitude about cows. . .

Whichever way you go, find out how much you have to gross per acre to qualify for continued ag classification, and make sure you do something that will do the trick.

One strand will keep most of the cattle in most of the time! Personally I’d want two strands of HT minimum…..more if near a busy road etc. I’d go with the shared hay as suggested and sell it off the field unless you really want to get into the cattle business.
Chris

Did that when I was about fifteen. Still makes me nervous to be around one. And that certain part of a mans body still hurts at the sight of one.

One strand for 6 head on 40 ac will be fine

That will worf IF the fence stays hot but I would put up a 5 strand fence. It"s cheaper than a law suit when a cow gets out and gets hit by a car you are liable.

If you are not a farmer, you don't get the tax credit. Don't pretend to be something you are not just to save a few bucks. As a farmer I think that is a bunch of bullsh-t.

Having said that, your tax returns will probably have to show a little more than 3 cows to call off the tax dogs.

And an electric fence will work fine, but here in iowa I am pretty sure an electric fence alone isn't a legal one, so if one gets out and does some damage or gets hit by a car, your liable and negligent