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Border fence can't keep out cattle!

leanin' H

Well-known member
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Longtime New Mexico cattle rancher Judy Keeler is keenly aware of how tough it is to raise livestock in the dusty desert near the U.S.-Mexico border.

Drought, intense heat, security and illegal immigrants who cut down ranchers fences and drink water meant for livestock are constant concerns.

But Keeler and fellow ranchers now have another worry.

The border fence, installed by the Department of Homeland Security to keep cars and people from crossing into the United States illegally, isn't so good at blocking cattle in some places. The new fence replaced previous livestock fences at some points, and some stretches are so low that cows can step right over it.

And because regulations in Mexico are less strict, Mexican herds are more likely to have bovine tuberculosis and other communicable diseases.

"It's kind of a hodgepodge of fencing," said Keeler, president of the Hidalgo County Cattle Grower's Association in Hachita in southwest New Mexico. "The inconsistencies along the border is what I'm trying to get them to correct."

Some of the Mexican border states don't have the bovine TB-free disease status enjoyed by most of the U.S. border states, said Caren Cowan, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association in Albuquerque, N.M.

That could lead to disease spreading to U.S. cattle, threatening the nation's beef industry, although no infections blamed on Mexican cattle have been reported recently.

"It's a more lower level threat, but it only takes one cow to bring down the economy of the whole nation," said Jeff Witte, director of agriculture biosecurity at the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

Agriculture officials in the border states of California and Arizona say they haven't heard complaints from ranchers on the issue of border fencing and livestock protection.

In Texas, a high fence along the border is needed to control the flow of wildlife and cattle from Mexico, said Susan Durham with the South Texans' Property Rights Association in Falfurrias, Texas. Disease concerns there include Cattle Fever Tick, a parasite eradicated from the United States 65 years ago that can transmit disease to cattle.

In New Mexico, complaints focus on differing heights and styles of fence.

While most people envision a 20-foot-tall fence all along New Mexico's border, Keeler said the fence at some points _ where the barrier is meant to stop vehicles, not people on foot or cows _ is only 3 feet high.

Some types of fence have high, closely placed steel beams, while others are a design of thick post and rail fencing.

Then there's what's called a Normandy barrier, where X-shaped steel beams have a middle rail to link the structures to stop vehicle traffic.

The type of fence for a given area was chosen based on topography, needs and cost, said Doug Mosier, spokesman for the Border Patrol's El Paso, Texas, sector, which includes 128 miles of fence in New Mexico and portions of two West Texas counties under its jurisdiction.

"Farmers and ranchers are happy to see the infrastructure in place," Mosier said. "This is the first major step that the U.S. government has taken to assess needs along the U.S. border, and there will be more to come."

Mosier said there was no fencing in some areas when they started the project last year, and some areas and fences that did exist were showing wear.

Barbed wire fences were replaced with better fences when the new barrier was installed, said Terry Kranz, assistant patrol agent in charge at the Border Patrol's Lordsburg station.

Witte said agencies and ranchers need to communicate to prevent disease.

First detector training courses, which bring together ranchers and law enforcement agencies, are important for ranchers dealing with livestock diseases, he said. The courses teach officers to look for signs of cattle illness, such as coughing and excessive mucus, and immediately contact area veterinarians.

"It was a way to get a number of eyes and ears out across the state and recognizing when there might be a disease issue," Witte said.

Ranchers, he said, "have a tremendous burden on their shoulders because they are in the region. They are on the forefront of our agricultural security."

U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has formed a Border Security Task Force to identify border issues, and has held meetings about the border fence with ranchers and land agencies for years. At a recent meeting, ranchers decided team up with the New Mexico Department of Agriculture to present their priorities to government agencies.

Joe Johnson, whose New Mexico ranch _ near Columbus in Luna County _ shares its southern border with Mexico, said he was consulted on his fence needs before a Normandy barrier was installed on portions of his ranch.

The barrier is "still under the test" to see if will prevent Mexican cattle from crossing, he said.

"In most ways we got what we asked for," Johnson said. "Now we just have to wait and see how well it will be effective."
 

CattleArmy

Well-known member
To keep their product safer wouldn't it be smarter to put up their own fence around the peremeter of their property/lease?

When Turner came into this country putting up his high electric fences it was up to the land owner that bordered him if they took down the old fence. Most did because there was to be some benefit to them in doing it. If memory serves me at all right it was because then if the cattle got out on Turner it was his problem and not yours. Most of the time it is anyway because of the locked gate syndrom. Last summer a neighbor had cattle crawl through the fence and called up to Turner foreman who couldn't help him because it was his day off. Neighbor said you have one hour to get here then I'm driving my tractor through your gate. Lone behold foreman showed up even on his day off. :D
 

nenmrancher

Well-known member
Part of the problem is that any new fencing or materials have a bad habit of dissappearing from where they were put in the ground, that is a lot of the reason in NM that border ranchers are leary about putting to much new fence in.
 

hopalong

Well-known member
Very true, and a fence to keep cattle contained is a LOT different that a fence to keep people in/;out and a REAL cattleman/woman would know that. :roll: :roll: :roll:

It's not permanent mental slippage (PMS) it is YOU
 

CattleArmy

Well-known member
hopalong said:
Very true, and a fence to keep cattle contained is a LOT different that a fence to keep people in/;out and a REAL cattleman/woman would know that. :roll: :roll: :roll:

It's not permanent mental slippage (PMS) it is YOU

Hopesitwaslonger nice to see you still :heart: me too. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

Ok dumbass :p here's the deal I was suggesting that cattlemen and women put up their own fence in order to keep their product safer. You just couldn't understand it.

Have a fantastic day!

Oh and if you get all picking at me like people do when they like them what is Kola gonna think? :help: :devil2:
 

hopalong

Well-known member
CattleArmy said:
hopalong said:
Very true, and a fence to keep cattle contained is a LOT different that a fence to keep people in/;out and a REAL cattleman/woman would know that. :roll: :roll: :roll:

It's not permanent mental slippage (PMS) it is YOU

Hopesitwaslonger nice to see you still :heart: me too. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

Ok dumbass :p here's the deal I was suggesting that cattlemen and women put up their own fence in order to keep their product safer. You just couldn't understand it.

Have a fantastic day!

What you don't understand is they already have such fences!!
The illegals do not respect them, in fact they tear them down in order to have better access!\
Have a fantastic day in la la land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS It is not Permanent mental slippage it is YOU!!!!


Oh and if you get all picking at me like people do when they like them what is Kola gonna think? :help: :devil2:

???? what ya been drinking?? don't make much sense??^^^^but then you don't a lot of the time!!!
Still I give you credit for having a 1/2 brain more than kolo, you jiust don't use it! :D :D

LA LA LA LALLAALLAA
 

CattleArmy

Well-known member
hopalong said:
CattleArmy said:
hopalong said:
Very true, and a fence to keep cattle contained is a LOT different that a fence to keep people in/;out and a REAL cattleman/woman would know that. :roll: :roll: :roll:

It's not permanent mental slippage (PMS) it is YOU

Hopesitwaslonger nice to see you still :heart: me too. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

Ok dumbass :p here's the deal I was suggesting that cattlemen and women put up their own fence in order to keep their product safer. You just couldn't understand it.

Have a fantastic day!

What you don't understand is they already have such fences!!
The illegals do not respect them, in fact they tear them down in order to have better access!\
Have a fantastic day in la la land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS It is not Permanent mental slippage it is YOU!!!!


Oh and if you get all picking at me like people do when they like them what is Kola gonna think? :help: :devil2:

???? what ya been drinking?? don't make much sense??^^^^but then you don't a lot of the time!!!
Still I give you credit for having a 1/2 brain more than kolo, you jiust don't use it! :D :D

LA LA LA LALLAALLAA

Evidentally you didn't read the article.

The border fence, installed by the Department of Homeland Security to keep cars and people from crossing into the United States illegally, isn't so good at blocking cattle in some places. The new fence replaced previous livestock fences at some points, and some stretches are so low that cows can step right over it.

Do you see the part where it says REPLACED previous LIVESTOCK fences?

Ahhhh Hopesitwaslonger we all know the "CRUSH" you have on Kola and now me. It's just an AWWWWW moment. Makes me feel all Sara Palinish. :evil:
 

hopalong

Well-known member
CattleArmy said:
hopalong said:
CattleArmy said:
Hopesitwaslonger nice to see you still :heart: me too. Gives me that warm fuzzy feeling all over.

Ok dumbass :p here's the deal I was suggesting that cattlemen and women put up their own fence in order to keep their product safer. You just couldn't understand it.

Have a fantastic day!

What you don't understand is they already have such fences!!
The illegals do not respect them, in fact they tear them down in order to have better access!\
Have a fantastic day in la la land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS It is not Permanent mental slippage it is YOU!!!!


Oh and if you get all picking at me like people do when they like them what is Kola gonna think? :help: :devil2:

???? what ya been drinking?? don't make much sense??^^^^but then you don't a lot of the time!!!
Still I give you credit for having a 1/2 brain more than kolo, you jiust don't use it! :D :D

LA LA LA LALLAALLAA

Evidentally you didn't read the article.

The border fence, installed by the Department of Homeland Security to keep cars and people from crossing into the United States illegally, isn't so good at blocking cattle in some places. The new fence replaced previous livestock fences at some points, and some stretches are so low that cows can step right over it.

Do you see the part where it says REPLACED previous LIVESTOCK fences?

Ahhhh Hopesitwaslonger we all know the "CRUSH" you have on Kola and now me. It's just an AWWWWW moment. Makes me feel all Sara Palinish. :evil:

Apparently you do not READ or understand the fact that the ILLIGALS tear down any fence!!!!
Might want to do a little serious research on fencing for ranchers along the borders of N.M. AZ. Texas. etc etc!!!the border feces were not!!! i repeat not intended to be used by the cattlemen no matter what the article says.
Perhaps when you mature you will understand, until then go ahead and live in your fantasy that I have a CRUSH on you, never cared for LITTLE girls in a crush like manner!

Sweet dreams little one :roll: :roll: :roll:

It is not pms (permanent mental slippage) It is only you
 

CattleArmy

Well-known member
It's the cattle producers product and their responsibility to try and keep their product safe. It appears to be a huge job, however with the possibilities for disease that could wipe them out I'm sure that they are searching each avenue to enable them to do so.

Hopesitwaslonger do not get all crappy over what the article says to me I didn't post it. However I know it's easier for someone like you to be all grouchy at a woman like me then to take it up with a man like leanin'H. :D

If you think the article is crap stand up and be a man and call it out. Don't just pick on your favorites to help yourself feel all manly inside.
 

Steve

Well-known member
if a fence was "replaced" by the border agency.. then it should be required to at least measure up to the purpose of the old fence..

The new fence replaced previous livestock fences at some points, and some stretches are so low that cows can step right over it.

if a cow can step over the fence.. so can a Mexican.. :roll: :roll: :wink:
 

hopalong

Well-known member
CattleArmy said:
It's the cattle producers product and their responsibility to try and keep their product safe. It appears to be a huge job, however with the possibilities for disease that could wipe them out I'm sure that they are searching each avenue to enable them to do so.

Hopesitwaslonger do not get all crappy over what the article says to me I didn't post it. However I know it's easier for someone like you to be all grouchy at a woman like me then to take it up with a man like leanin'H. :D

If you think the article is crap stand up and be a man and call it out. Don't just pick on your favorites to help yourself feel all manly inside.

Not once did I say the article was wrong!

Go back and look. all I said was that your perception of the whole article was and is still wrong!

P.S. is not PMS (permanent mental slippage) IT IS YOU!!

When you MATURE you might understand, until then go back to your fantasy :D :D
 

hopalong

Well-known member
CattleArmy said:
Hopesitwaslonger see there you are all arguing with me trying to make Kola jealous. Awwwwwwwwwww

Dumbass

Awwwwwww aint she sweet, trying the "little" girl act to get some attention.
A 12 yr old mentality :D

I can't argue with you as you lack the MATURITY to argue with an adult!

PMS fits you to a "T" permanent mental slippage :roll: :roll:
 
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