Calves and electric fencing

[funny farm]

Does it work with young calves and electric fencing, thinking of using 2 or 3 strands to turn out some young calves and cows. Will the calves respect it or will it just cause problems?

 

[M-J-G]

Plenty of power and you'll be fine, particularly if the cows respect it.

 

[Yonlass]

Does it work with young calves and electric fencing, thinking of using 2 or 3 strands to turn out some young calves and cows. Will the calves respect it or will it just cause problems?

They'll soon learn after a crack or two.

 

[Barleycorn]

Best thing is to set it up along one wall of the shed for a couple of weeks before you turn them out.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

They might pop through, the only trouble is if the cow follows the calf. Our calves are sometimes on their next break but only maybe once a fortnight or so, I push them back under the wire and hopefully they get a second crack, that learns them.

That's only a single wire though, they know they can't get through 2.

 

[pine_guy]

Best thing is to set it up along one wall of the shed for a couple of weeks before you turn them out.

Yes this, or they’ll take it out learning what it is

 

[Matt77]

I put two strands alone a river bank every year for my sucklers, which has trees and brambles along it too, it always seems to be a branch or bramble that causes a problem, never had the calves go through, I think you’ll be fine.

 

[The Ruminant]

I wouldn’t do it if the calves are less than a week old. In my experience they seem almost impervious to pain at that age (maybe something to do with coping with being born??!!) After that they soon learn, especially if, as said above, there’s a solid wall / fence / hedge in front of them so they have to go backwards when they get zapped. Couple of times like that then bring fence out into field to continue training them

 

[milkloss]

Only problem we have is if they curl up close to the fence and jiggle closer or roll under it. When they get up it's usually on the wrong side of the fence and we have to hunt them down in some woodland which is a pain in the 4rse.

 

[gwi1890]

I put 2 strands for my dairy x calves, suckler calves only one as they “draw “ to their mothers , once the dairy x calves are trained and bigger one strand is ok

 

[The Grinch]

We had never had a problem until last summer. Had a single strand poly wire electric fence up to stop suckler calves going through holes in hedge. One of them must have sneaked under it but when it came back gone over it. Poor sod must have got it’s back foot caught on top of the wire, dragged electric fence stake and wire into middle of field before wire snapped. Cut his foot through to the tendon just like cheese wire. Vet managed to sew it back together and put a mixed race on but was touch and go whether it would heal for a few weeks, hence we are now loathed to use around anything under 6 months old

 

[GmB]

I like to use the wide white tape for training young stock, easy for them to see and being something different, they mostly approach it with caution, have a sniff and then a good crack on the nose. As with all electric fencing, if the first encounter results in a big shock, they will respect it.

 

[Blaithin]

Absolutely need multiple wires. Two for sure, three would probably be ideal.

Good height for cows is perfect height for calves to go under. Going under they don’t usually get shocked the same as a nose touch. Lower the wire and you can start to experience older animals going over it. Unless they have droopy udders that catch it on the way. Then they tend to only try and hop it once....

Best to have a couple shiny pop cans or something to get them to sniff as well. 4-6 month olds are complete pests to keep in unless you keep it HOT and make sure they get their noses done.

 

[Formatted]

We turned out cows and calves last week, still calving they are behind 1 strand of electric. Sometimes find calves on the other side but soon run through and the older calves have stopped doing it

 

[Spudley]

I wouldn’t do it if the calves are less than a week old. In my experience they seem almost impervious to pain at that age (maybe something to do with coping with being born??!!) After that they soon learn, especially if, as said above, there’s a solid wall / fence / hedge in front of them so they have to go backwards when they get zapped. Couple of times like that then bring fence out into field to continue training them

This is what I do, run the fence just inside the gate for a few days then bring it in. They soon learn!

 

[funny farm]

Turned them out a few days ago with 3 strands and seems to be working fine cows were trained last year and the calves seem to be behaving themselves. Thanks for the help will see how it goes as they get older