Dairy Stock Soon Learn To Respect The Fence

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 18 (Supplement)

Dairy Stock Soon Learn To Respect The Fence

Twelve months ago a farmer in this district purchased a 57-acre dairy farm on which all the fences were in a very bad state of repair. Taking the best of the wire and posts, he was able to repair part of the boundary fence and the road fence efficiently. He then purchased a second-hand but good electric fence controller, which was placed in the separator room. Without the purchase of new wire and posts, all the subdivision fences were converted into electric fences. Most of these consist of one wire, but where the calves are grazed, a second wire is placed between the electric wire and the ground. This lower wire, which does not carry the current, is well grounded by connecting it at convenient points to the water pipes. Ordinary fencing battens were found to be too light to hold the special insulator nails, and in place of the nails coach screws with the usual leather washers were used. Wooden gates suffered excessive damage by stock, but their replacement by electrified gates proved satisfactory. It was found necessary, however, to carry an extra electric wire overhead across the gateway in order that the current was not broken when an electric-wire gate was left open. Apart from successfully controlling all classes of dairy stock and horses, the electric fence has been useful for protecting the shelter belts and maize crop. On a partially improved dairy farm, electric fencing has been used extensively with complete success, except in the case of young pigs. When newly purchased stock are brought on to the

property they are placed in one end of a paddock temporarily fenced off with the electric fence. The milking herd is placed in the larger portion of the field. One day of this procedure educates the new stock to respect the fence. Since last spring the current has been cut off from most of the fences. Although the cows and calves have grazed right up to, and in some cases under, the fence lines, they have not yet attempted to break through. Another farmer has used the fence for dairy stock with success. The erection of temporary electric fences to ration pasture feed has proved entirely satisfactory. Three-inch by two-inch timber, 4ft. to 4ft. 6in. long and pointed at one end, is used for posts. The insulator is placed 4in. to 6in. from the top, and the post is simply driven into place with the maui. On the Dargaville demonstration farm last spring, the first use made of an electric outfit was purchased last spring. The first use made of the this outfi was to electrify one wire round the bull paddock. The work wao done in the middle of the mating season, and previously where it was necessary for a man to restaple the wire on the battens and posts every other day, no further work was necessary. Since then, the electric fence has been used to fence off the maize crop, to protect new drains. and to make new subdivisions. Further, it has proved a simple matter to fence off hay and ensilage stacks. Where the stack is alongside . an existing fence line, 20 minutes' work will effectually protect the stack. If the stack was erected in the centre of a field, the connecting electric wire was carried on poles 8ft. high to the stack. This permits free movement of grazing stock under the charged wire. Electric gateways are being used freely. To by-pass the wire overhead, lengths of old piping are used to support the wire. On the electric wire on gateway itself an old claw-tube rubber split down one side and placed on the wire at a convenient position makes an excellent insulator for the hand when opening and closing the gate. Latest Aid of Science. The electric fence is the latest contribution of science to economical farming.