A question about standard cattle guards....
- Thread starter Whitewing
- Start date
balestabber
Well-known member
i have never used them for other livestock,
but i have driven thru the Exotic Animal Parks,,and zoos that use them to separate deer,exotic sheep,big birds,equine,bovine,camels and different animals from a to z.maybe they should rename them or atleast engineer a cattle guard/to an all livestock guard.hope this helps ya
but i have driven thru the Exotic Animal Parks,,and zoos that use them to separate deer,exotic sheep,big birds,equine,bovine,camels and different animals from a to z.maybe they should rename them or atleast engineer a cattle guard/to an all livestock guard.hope this helps ya
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
Here's a link to some of the nicest ones up here.
http://www.magnumfabricating.com/texasgates.html
I think they should work for hogs if the fence attaching to them does.
http://www.magnumfabricating.com/texasgates.html
I think they should work for hogs if the fence attaching to them does.
Thanks guys.
I'm going to have a local fellow make a number of cattle guards for me and I figured if they'd also do the job for hogs, so much the better.
It's best when you can leave only one set of instructions with a Venezuelan.
I'm going to have a local fellow make a number of cattle guards for me and I figured if they'd also do the job for hogs, so much the better.
It's best when you can leave only one set of instructions with a Venezuelan.
Ben H
Well-known member
I went to Disney in Orlando the year Animal Kingdom opened, they had cattle guards made of high tensile wire/tension springs to separate species and have the tour trailers drive over. It couldn't have been open for more then a few months and some of the wires were broken. I wonder what they're using now, it seemed like a good idea if you could make it work, quite inexpensive.
I put ( I think I emailed them to Faster Horses ) pictures on here a couple of years ago of electric cattle guards I had made. They work great except for the wife mowing them ( twice ) and they hold cattle, horses, hogs, and dogs.
They are no good for snow but I just move them out of the drives during snow and hook up electric gates if I have animals there during snow. But if the animals ( dogs and horses ) are used to them all summer they will not cross where they were even with 6" of snow there.
I feel they would work for sheep and goats but I have never owned any so I can't say.
I have never figured how to post pictures here so if you are interested PM me with your email address and I will send to you.
They are no good for snow but I just move them out of the drives during snow and hook up electric gates if I have animals there during snow. But if the animals ( dogs and horses ) are used to them all summer they will not cross where they were even with 6" of snow there.
I feel they would work for sheep and goats but I have never owned any so I can't say.
I have never figured how to post pictures here so if you are interested PM me with your email address and I will send to you.
I'm glad you brought this up. I had forgotten about these. We went last spring and I think they were small cables with springs instead of hi-tensile wire. Pretty good idea. I've got the perfect spot to test one out. Might have to put my redneck engineering to use. Can't decide if the 2 side bars should be rigid to the post or just chained so they can swivel as you cross.
I have tried to find my pictures but can't so far. I found that hay maker had posted them for me.
bottom line is I lay a piece of old conveyor belt accross the drive and bolt a 2X6 ( treated ) to each end and run 3 wires across threw tennis balls about every 3'. If the wire gets slack no problem as it is on the rubber belt. The first time cattle see it they seem to think the green balls are apples and go up to take a bite - - -no more of that nonsense! The dogs found out fetch is not with green balls! I own a Gravel pit so belts are easy to come by but if you go to any gravel pit they have to pay to landfill the old belts so I'm sure you could get some free.
Another thing I have found is after they are used to this you can just lay a piece of belt down anywhere and for a few days at least they will stay away!
I roll them up for snow and get them out of the way. I had a UPS truck slide thru once but an easy fix - - - the only other time I had to work on them was when my wife tried to mow right across - - - I repaired it ( took forever to get the wire off the blades) and in return she mowed across again the following week. At that time I blew a gasket and for the last 3 or 4 years she shuts the mower off, raises the deck and goes slowly across and then starts the deck back. I know this uses up about 30 seconds each week but so be it! I do have to replace balls about every 3 or 4 years. If I could talk my wife into straddling them they might not fall apart as often.
As for the gullies I run my wire right across up at whatever level it wants to go and then I drop a wire stright down to about 18" off the ground about every 18" apart and then tie ( run thru ) a tennis ball to the bottom of each vertical wire.
When hi water comes the wires normally just flow down stream and if a limb or something tears one off it is an easy fix.
If I find the pictures I will get them to you or if spring ever comes I will take more.
bottom line is I lay a piece of old conveyor belt accross the drive and bolt a 2X6 ( treated ) to each end and run 3 wires across threw tennis balls about every 3'. If the wire gets slack no problem as it is on the rubber belt. The first time cattle see it they seem to think the green balls are apples and go up to take a bite - - -no more of that nonsense! The dogs found out fetch is not with green balls! I own a Gravel pit so belts are easy to come by but if you go to any gravel pit they have to pay to landfill the old belts so I'm sure you could get some free.
Another thing I have found is after they are used to this you can just lay a piece of belt down anywhere and for a few days at least they will stay away!
I roll them up for snow and get them out of the way. I had a UPS truck slide thru once but an easy fix - - - the only other time I had to work on them was when my wife tried to mow right across - - - I repaired it ( took forever to get the wire off the blades) and in return she mowed across again the following week. At that time I blew a gasket and for the last 3 or 4 years she shuts the mower off, raises the deck and goes slowly across and then starts the deck back. I know this uses up about 30 seconds each week but so be it! I do have to replace balls about every 3 or 4 years. If I could talk my wife into straddling them they might not fall apart as often.
As for the gullies I run my wire right across up at whatever level it wants to go and then I drop a wire stright down to about 18" off the ground about every 18" apart and then tie ( run thru ) a tennis ball to the bottom of each vertical wire.
When hi water comes the wires normally just flow down stream and if a limb or something tears one off it is an easy fix.
If I find the pictures I will get them to you or if spring ever comes I will take more.
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
My Dad had bought a gate one time that had channel iron down the side about the weight of a cheap steel fence post with holes for eye bolts. You staked them down and strung high tensile wire that hooked to small springs on each end. On the wire were strips of "plastic "tarp material about 3-4 inches wide. The idea was they made a shadow to show depth, visibility and fluttered in the breeze.
I can't remember how well it worked but the first low slung car to cross it tore it out and he never put up again.
I can't remember how well it worked but the first low slung car to cross it tore it out and he never put up again.
Found some of the pictures - - - I spent about an hour trying to post them after I printed out your instructions and I guess I'm just not up to the task!
I emailed them to Whitewing. Feel free to post them and if after seeing them if any one has questions I will try to help the best I can!
I emailed them to Whitewing. Feel free to post them and if after seeing them if any one has questions I will try to help the best I can!
I do not use springs as the belt will give a little and I just use twine on each end to hold the belt in place as I want it to be able to move if needed ( when the wife mows over it)