How to Construct Cattle Fencing

Use barbed wire to build a cattle fence.

If you are planning to build cattle fence on your property, you have a number of options. Traditional fence building materials for cattle fence are barbed wire and woven wire fencing. Other types of fences, such as treated wood, electric and high tensile, work equally well. The Extension Service of the University of Tennessee recommends cattle fencing should be at least 54 inches tall for pastures, and that fences used for catch pens and for separating bulls from cows need to be at least 60 inches tall.

Things You'll Need

• String
• Stakes
• Spray paint
• Auger
• Jobbers
• Wooden fence posts
• Steel fence posts
• Level
• Tamper
• Brace pieces
• Screws
• Sledgehammer
• Post driver
• Leather gloves
• Barbed wire
• Wire stretchers
• Fencing staples
• Fence clips

Instructions

1. Tie a string to two stakes. Push the stakes in the ground where you intend the build the fence. This string line helps you keep the fencerow straight.

2. Mark where you intend to set the corner posts and brace posts. Use spray paint or other marking material to mark the location.

3. Plan on setting the rest of the posts as steel fence posts or a mix of steel posts and wooden ones. Figure on spacing the posts about 12 to 20 feet apart. Mark post locations along the string line with the spray paint.

4. Use an augur to dig the postholes for the wooden posts. You can rent a self-propelled one, or use a posthole digger attached to a tractor. Dig the holes below the frost line so the posts can't heave out during freezing and thawing periods.

5. Set all the posts in place. Use a level to make sure each post is plumb. Tamp all posts firmly into position with a tamper.

6. Attach the braces to the corner and brace posts with screws. These posts bear a lot of pressure, so ensure they are an adequate size.

7. Hold steel posts in position while hitting them with a sledgehammer. Another option is to use a post driver.

8. Place a steel fence post through the roll of barbed wire. Tie the end of the barbed wire to a corner post in the highest position you plan to use. Unwind the wire using the post as a spindle. The wire should go on the inside of the pasture fence so the cattle push up against it when they contact it. Loosely tie off the wire on the opposite corner post.

9. Attach the wire stretchers to the barbed wire at the end you just secured. Pull the wire taut. Secure the wire on the second corner post. Use fencing staples, or steeples, to attach the wire to the wooden posts. Connect steel posts and wire with fence clips.

10. Continue adding as many as four more rows of barbed wire to the fence. Space the rows evenly.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear leather gloves when working with barbed wire.

References

• University of Tennessee Extension: Planning and Building Fences for the Farm
• Virginia Cooperative Extension: Fencing Materials for Livestock Systems