Cows in welded wire

[18angovem]

most fences are just a suggestion for cows.

that being said a strong suggestion for your steer, would be a solar charger and a single or double strand of hot wire. super easy, especially since you already have the posts in the ground. the make insulators for t-post(the make them for either way the t post is facing), and wooden posts. relatively cheap insurance.

however, on the off chance, that you simply came on here for assertions that you don't need to do anything to keep your steer in the fence, leave it as is, and roll the proverbial dice.

Ok, I think I will do that solar charger. I was under the false opinion that solar fence chargers are super expensive, but to my surprise they aren't! So mr.steer get ready for a shock! And do not worry, there will be another steer joining him soon so that he is not lonely.

 

[holm25]

If he is young he could have welded wire for a little while till you could get something else made.

 

[holm25]

Be aware calves will go through a single strand of wire. If it had its mom it wouldnt be a problem since it would stay close but by itself it may go aways away if it gets out. The best thing for a young calf is a cattle panel.

 

[Folly's place]

Calves must be trained to the electric fencing, by having it set with cattle panels or some other solid fencing, so they don't just panic and run through the electric. A pen set up with electric on the inside for a week or so will work. Mary

 

[MeepBeep]

Calves must be trained to the electric fencing, by having it set with cattle panels or some other solid fencing, so they don't just panic and run through the electric.

This is true for most animals, and thus the reason I would hesitate to put the cow in just a welded wire and T-Post fenced without electric, in area until it's fence trained and respects the fence... I just can't see a welded wire/T-Post fence containing a calf at 500+lbs from bulldozing it down... It could be as simple as it wanting something on the other side or because it's stubborn and just wants to ram the fence because it's there... And don't forget even though they are big with a running start they can jump and even if they don't clear the fence any T-Post section is likely to give and be bent over enough for them to clear...

Best bet is to fence train them with a strong fence before taking risk with a flimsy one...

 

[donrae]

You might look into some scratching posts or those big bristle brushes folks use so he has something to scratch himself on. That could be a fence saver.

My horses are in 4 ft welded wire fence with wood posts and T posts. they have pushed on it pretty good on one side reaching the grass next door, but it still holds them.

 

[shortgrass]

We have most of our pasture as single strand electric. The calves are born out there lol, no training required; a calf won't take down electric fence; they walk under it ROFL

Single strand electric on a solar charger will work. I didn't know how much space you were talking about; I thought we were talking a corral

 

[Tumbling K]

we used to flag the hot wire with pink or yellow flagging tape. works great as a trainer for the curious calves. Leave only a couple inches of tag on the flags.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

My problem is that there is no electricity that far out where it is. I have to drive there in the side by side so electric fence really isn't an option. He is a really nice steer, like I don't think he would try to tear down the fence but I am worried he would rub on it and tear it down. Do steers normally do?

Most pastures are to far out for electricity. What farmers do is get a fencer and a car battery; they do also make solar fencers.
I do not have much experience with Jerseys, but steers with get onery. Yes he might rub on your fence. It will probably take him time, he will probably assume the fence is charged for a while, but he will get to a point where he will try to break the fence, unless he thinks it will bite back.

 

[shortgrass]

I have never even heard of using a car battery... I really don't know if I would trust a car battery to supply enough juice to keep the fence charged without an alternating current.

We use 110s and they work fine for solar, easily covers about 500 acres a pop.

Corrals have cattle panel and barbed wire with sheep panel for the feedyards.


It's one steer, maybe 2? These are steers not bulls or cows; they really aren't going to be interested in much other than eating; it it were a cow/calf pair or a bull, or an area where they will end up being g worked or corralled, more secure fencing will be needed.

Edit* I might have misunderstood you @OrganicFarmWife, the battery will work to power the solar charger..., if that's what you were implying, my apologies