How to Inspect Livestock Fence Lines

Besides checking feed, water and salt everyday on your livestock, you need to inspect the fence lines on a regular basis. Cows have a habit of reaching through fences to try to get a tasty morsel and will accidentally tear up your fence lines. If it gets bad enough, they can just walk right through the fence and then you have your cattle all over the country. You need to once a week or every other week, inspect your fence lines to keep them in proper repair.

Drive Your Fence Lines Regularly:

About once a week or every other week, drive your fence lines. Just get in a vehicle or on a horse and do a quick inspection of your fence line. As you slowly drive along your fence, look for any broke posts or wires. You can easily spot any place where the wire is gaping. These places may not be in critical need of repairs at this point, but you need to keep an eye on them so you will be prepared for your semi-annual fence repairs. If you do find something that needs immediate attention, you can usually do a quick repair with just a pair of fence pliers and some wire to keep your livestock on your property rather than visiting with the neighbors.

Semi-Annual Inspections of Your Fence Lines:

When you have a pretty day, consider doing a more in depth inspection of your fence lines. Get out of your vehicle and walk your fence line. Take along some flagging material and a pair of fencing pliers. Walk to each post in your fence line. Check the condition of the post to see if it is solid and be sure all of the wires are still secured to the fence post. If there is a problem, use the flagging material to mark it so that you can bring heavy equipment to repair it properly the next time you are able to tend to it.

Tools and Materials for Your Fence Line Inspections:

Remember to practice "safety first" when you are inspecting your fence lines. Be sure to wear gloves and appropriate clothing for the weather. You will also want to wear a pair of boots to protect you from snake bites and other hazards when you are inspecting your fence lines. If you carry a pair of fence pliers and some wire, you will be able to make most repairs. In many cases, you may need to bring fence posts for your semi-annual inspections. Metal T-Posts are the easiest to install when doing repairs. A manual fence post pounder can aid you in inserting the fence post into an existing fence line.

It is funny how cattle know where weak spots in your fence line are. They may have been reaching through and know that the wire is lose, or a post that has been in the ground for years is rotted and only the wires are holding it up. If a cow finds its way out, they remember where that spot is and will return to it time and time again. One of the best methods for finding the cow's hole is to back track her. You have to play detective to find where the cow got out and then properly fix it so that your livestock are contained.