I thought some of you might be interested in the cattle guards I make. First my cattle all respect a hot wire - - - and I keep the biggest charger available.
I have lots of used conveyor belting ( most gravel pits would probably give you some if needed ) so I take a piece long enough to span the gate I need it in.
I use deck screws to attach a 2 foot long 2X8 to each end. I then nail three insulators to each board ( both board and insulators are on top of the belting). Each board is attached to the gate post at each side of the opening.
I then thread 3 or 4 tennis balls on a piece of fence wire and string the wire between the ends, You don't need to make it real tight as the tennis balls will be used to hold the wire off the belt.
Slide the tennis balls to the high spots in the drive and now the wire will be about an inch and a half off the ground. First time the cattle see the lime green balls in the drive they sniff to check them out and training is over.
As for training the drivers if they just go over without skidding or spining wheels the wire just mashes down and springs back up.
After a few of these I can now lay a piece of belting anywhere I don't want the cattle to go and you could not drive them across. But if you need them to pass disattach one end and swing the belt, wires and all out of the way and they will willingly pass right through.
This would probably work without the belting but I feel the belting helps the cattle see there is something there and if a wire gets loose the rubber belting will prevent a short.
So far this has stopped Cattle, Horses, and Dogs - - - - If you are on foot it is very easy to step over but the dogs will not follow!
If anyone wants pictures PM me and I will send, if there is enough interest that person could then post the pictures.
I have lots of used conveyor belting ( most gravel pits would probably give you some if needed ) so I take a piece long enough to span the gate I need it in.
I use deck screws to attach a 2 foot long 2X8 to each end. I then nail three insulators to each board ( both board and insulators are on top of the belting). Each board is attached to the gate post at each side of the opening.
I then thread 3 or 4 tennis balls on a piece of fence wire and string the wire between the ends, You don't need to make it real tight as the tennis balls will be used to hold the wire off the belt.
Slide the tennis balls to the high spots in the drive and now the wire will be about an inch and a half off the ground. First time the cattle see the lime green balls in the drive they sniff to check them out and training is over.
As for training the drivers if they just go over without skidding or spining wheels the wire just mashes down and springs back up.
After a few of these I can now lay a piece of belting anywhere I don't want the cattle to go and you could not drive them across. But if you need them to pass disattach one end and swing the belt, wires and all out of the way and they will willingly pass right through.
This would probably work without the belting but I feel the belting helps the cattle see there is something there and if a wire gets loose the rubber belting will prevent a short.
So far this has stopped Cattle, Horses, and Dogs - - - - If you are on foot it is very easy to step over but the dogs will not follow!
If anyone wants pictures PM me and I will send, if there is enough interest that person could then post the pictures.