When it comes to cattle fencing you have a few options, including electric wire, woven wire, barbed wire, and wire panel.
The best fence for cattle, therefore, depends on which type of fence wire is best suited for your needs – whether that be keeping costs down, keeping predators out, the breeds you own, and more.
The 3 Best Cattle Fences
Best Electric Fence Wire & Charger: Gallagher Electric Fence Turbo Wire & M1100 Charge
Super reliable, super-conductive, long-lasting, and highly portable.
New: $150.99 ($0.06 / Foot)
Gallagher Electric Fence Turbo Wire is designed to be super reliable, super-conductive, long-lasting, and highly portable.
Additionally, as good fencing for cattle should act as both a physical and visual barrier, you will appreciate the tape’s ultra-white color, as well as how it is made from hard-wearing UV resistant materials and is ideal for use in windy conditions.
40x more conductive than Poly Wire and best suited for distances beyond 400m, Gallagher Turbo Wire ensures that cattle have little chance of getting through.
To go along with the wire, we recommend the tough and reliable Gallagher M1100 Electric Fence Charger. It is ideal for larger pastures and powers up to a 110-mile single wire or 36 miles of multi-wire fence perimeter.
Best Woven Wire: Red Brand Woven Field Fence
Acting as both a strong physical and visual barrier, the Red Brand Woven Field Fence will provide reliable confinement for your cattle.
It is suitable for all terrains, as well as corrals and pastures, is able to withstand even the most severe weather to resist weathering as well as wear and tear, and is easy to stretch and work with.
The Red Brand galvanized wire measures in at 10 gauge, 330 feet long, and 47 inches tall.
Best Wire Panel Fence: OK Brand 10 Line Cattle Panel
With a one-piece welded steel construction that features 4 gauge galvanized wire, the OK Brand 10 Line Cattle Panel is very sturdy, sag resistant, and definitely built to last.
You will no doubt appreciate how lightweight and flexible the 16 ft. L x 50 in. H panel is, making it easy to maneuver and virtually maintenance-free.
Best Barbed Wire: Bekaert Gaucho 15.5 ga. 4-Point High Tensile Barbed Wire
Barbed wire doesn't come better than the Bekaert Gaucho 15.5 ga .
New: $159.99
Barbed wire is still the most popular type of cattle fencing used today – and it doesn’t come better than the Bekaert Gaucho 4-Point Barbed Wire.
Designed to be both strong and economical, the wire features a unique twist design to prevent sagging and the annoyance of pre-stretching, while allowing you to use fewer posts due to greater post spacing intervals.
Each pack of Bekaert 15.5 ga. High Tensile Class 3 Steel Wire measures 1,320 ft.
Important Things to Consider When Buying Fencing for Cattle
- Cattle Breed
There are more than 70 recognized cattle breeds in the USA, including Black Angus, Charolais, Texas Longhorn, Highlands, Holstein, and many more.
The best fencing for cattle can therefore depend on the unique characteristics of the breeds you have, as well as whether you need to keep bulls, steers, cows, or heifers fenced in.
- Type of Fencing
There’s a good reason why barbed wire is still the most widely used type of fencing for cattle in the USA – because it is inexpensive yet effective.
However, more and more farmers are moving away from barbed wire towards wire that acts as both a physical and visual barrier, as well as to high tensile, electric fence options.
- Cost per Foot
No one wants to spend more than they have to – and it doesn’t get any more economical than barbed wire fencing. But if it doesn’t work for your needs and is unable to keep your cattle enclosed, then it is worth paying more in cost per feet. The initial outlay will be higher but it will save you more money – not to mention time – in the long run.
- Temporary vs. Permanent Fencing
If you’re looking to set up fencing for cattle, it’s very likely that most of you reading this article are more interested in a permanent option.
If not, for simplicity and convenience, you can probably get away with using only a single strand of poly wire or poly tape attached to posts with a solar-powered energizer for short-term grazing.
- Predators
It is one thing to keep cattle fenced in, but it’s another thing to also be able to keep predators out. If keeping your cattle protected from predators is a concern, your requirements are going to differ, including requiring a fence charger that can deliver a minimum of 5,000 volts.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall should a fence for cattle be?
A cattle fence should be a minimum of 54 inches to prevent cattle from escaping.
Is barbed wire good for cattle fencing?
Barbed wire is good for cattle fencing because it is inexpensive, effective, long-lasting, and acts as a good physical barrier when needing to cover large areas. However, barbed wire can pose a danger to cattle as they can get stuck and injured.
Do electric fences work well for cattle?
Electric fences work very well and are very effective at keeping cattle in. Cattle are quick learners and will soon learn not to go near the fence. It’s recommended to use only the best cattle electric fence chargers that can deliver at least 2,000 volts to 3,000 volts.
If you have bulls, a higher voltage is required. Your fence line needs to run 3,000 volts to 4,000 volts