Cattle Guards provide security, convenience, and peace of mind.

The sun had already set when the family returned to the ranch with a gooseneck full of hay. They were tired and hungry, but the thought of a late home-cooked meal and a good night’s rest kept them going.

As they pulled up to the entry gate with the trailer in tow, they noticed something strange: The gate was wide open. A quick search of the surrounding pastures and their fear was confirmed. Their cattle had wandered off into the night.

Panic set in as they realized the amount of work that lay ahead and the potential trouble and danger the loose animals could create. Someone had simply forgot, or didn’t properly close and latch the gate, and now an immediate nighttime search and rescue operation for the family herd was necessary.

Up at the house, they grabbed their gear and flashlights before heading out into the dark to search for the missing cattle. They split up, each taking a different direction, and began looking in the surrounding fields and places where they thought the animals might congregate.

It wasn’t long before they realized just how difficult it was going to be to find their cattle in the middle of the night. The darkness made it hard to see and the cows could be scattered or grouped together almost anywhere.

The eldest daughter riding her ATV came across a small group grazing on some tall grass near the side of the road.  A road is not where you want to come across a herd in the dark. Passing cars and trucks could easily run into them and cause a heck of an accident. The potential loss of life was at the forefront of everyone’s mind.

Worried about such an event, the family kept looking in the dark for the rest of the cattle.

After another 45 minutes of searching and worrying about animal and human safety, the main herd was discovered in the dry riverbed further along the road.  The family worked together to corral the animals and decided to load them into trailers instead of herding them back to the ranch in the dark.

Once they were safely back in the pasture, the family realized the importance of having a cattle guard to prevent their animals from wandering off again. They knew it was an investment that would protect their animals, their livelihood, and possibly the lives of those in the passing vehicles on the nearby road.

Within three weeks, the guard was installed and they felt a sense of relief knowing that their cattle and passing vehicles would be secure on the property. The installation ensures the safety and security of their livestock no matter who was entering or leaving their property.

Not only that, but one of the best benefits of the cattle guard is that they no longer have to deal with operating a gate. To drive up, stop, and get out to open the gate in the rain or snow was never any fun. Nor was trying to get through the entrance before the animals began crowding the gate. Fighting the large animals off to close the gate before they can escape creates a dangerous situation.

Now, the family, and anyone else for that matter, can drive through without stopping and the family no longer has to worry about their cattle leaving the pasture and wandering around roads or the neighbor’s property.

For your own safety, convenience, and peace of mind, get a cattle guard from Barn World today!

Barn World (720) 238-2190 Sales@BarnWorld.com

A cattle guard, also known as a cattle gap or a cattle grid, is a livestock deterrent installed in the ground.  It’s commonly used in rural areas to prevent livestock, such as cattle, from crossing a fence line and wandering off.

It is typically made up of a series of parallel steel bars, usually spaced several inches apart, and set in a vaulted area across the road. The spaced-out bars create a gap that vehicles are able to drive over but are wide enough to prevent the animals from crossing.

The flat hooves of cattle have a very difficult time balancing on the small, rounded surface of the top rails which makes it physically challenging for the cattle to put any weight on their legs.

These common barriers are used to keep livestock from wandering out of pastures and fenced containment areas and becoming lost and entering harm’s way. This includes walking onto busy roads, private property, or other fields where they’ll need to be rounded up and returned.

Comparing to Gates

Cattle guards eliminate the need for gates to be opened and closed, which reduces the risk of animals escaping or getting injured by the gate itself. Gates can also be left open accidentally which can lead to cattle wandering away from their pastures. This is especially critical in areas that require public access for people who are not familiar with the importance of closing a gate.

Gates can be damaged by passing traffic, cattle, weather, or even fail from wear and tear with repeated opening and closing.

Gates can also be difficult to open and close in accumulated snow and sometimes will even freeze shut in icy conditions. Cattle guards, on the other hand, are fixed, do not need to be ‘operated’, and require very little maintenance to remain effective.

Imagine coming home at night to an open gate and a pasture “full” of missing cattle! Locating and rounding them up in the dark can be an unwelcome challenge!

Physical and Visual Barrier

Cattle Gaps even act as a visual barrier for these large animals. The open space and gaps between the top rails make cattle very hesitant to cross. Their eyes have trouble focusing on the top rails while ignoring the deep vaulted area below. This depth perception confusion creates an uncomfortable mental issue for the cow and the confusion is a deterrent all on its own.

The combination of both physical and visual deterrents makes these barriers highly effective without much maintenance and no mechanical operation at all.

These structures are also more durable and lower maintenance when compared to gates. They don’t need adjusting over time and there are no operational issues with the installed structure.

For worry-free livestock containment, a cattle guard can’t be beat! With a gate, you’ll need to stop to open it and then stop again to close it behind you. You also need to worry about others leaving it open allowing your cattle to wander off.

Consider installing a cattle guard on your property by clicking here. Barn World has multiple loading ratings for private driveways, public highways, and heavier-than-roadway-rated cattle guards for every type of use.

Please let us know if you’d like any help in planning your project, would like a quote, or if we can help with anything at all and we’ll be happy to help.

Barn World   Sales@BarnWorld.com   (720) 238-2190

The cattle guard has been the staple of livestock control on the farm and ranch for decades. Farm gates are the workhorse of animal containment, but the inconvenience for the user created the desire for something better; something that didn’t require extra effort to pass through was needed. A system that allowed for effortless and frequent access through fence lines was needed.

Secure containment without the need to close a gate is paramount in remote and high-traffic areas. Some people may have been granted access to your land who are not related to the ranch itself. These users of the entry are typically not as responsible for latching gates behind them every time they access the area as you are.

The trouble with using farm gates

The traditional metal swing-gate did a fine job of keeping livestock contained in pastures but required some discipline from those using them. The inconvenience of stopping equipment, and climbing down to open a gate while fending off any curious livestock was more than just a pain in the neck to users.

Users would also need to drive through the gate while keeping animals at bay, only to stop again to ward them off and close the gate behind them. They also needed to make sure it was securely latched before leaving.

When making several trips a day through a fenceline, or relying on strangers that access the property to close them, was inconvenient. Livestock containment is not guaranteed. The installation and use of a cattle guard provide ease of use, and peace of mind and is a huge time saver!

Gates are inconvenient are are only as secure as those using them – Cattle guards are FOOLPROOF

Gates require that everyone who uses them be responsible enough to make sure they are secured after being closed. A lot of pastures are in remote areas and need to be accessed by non-ranchers. Land access may be granted to companies that operate cell phone towers, oil wells, or other facilities. These areas require less than frequent maintenance by non-farm-related personnel. The sporadic traffic by those not familiar with livestock, or maybe just more concerned with convenience than keeping animals contained, don’t always do the best job of keeping gates closed. Leaving them open after they enter a pasture because ‘there are no cattle around’, only leads to animals sneaking out. With a cattle guard, there’s no more searching and rounding up escaped animals because someone left a gate open!

No more searching and rounding up escaped animals because someone left a gate open when using Cattle Guards!

Cattle Guards

The cattle guard design was born out of convenience and animal security. Once it was discovered that flat-hoofed livestock needed flat surfaces for secure footing, a design was born. The convenience of not opening and closing gates was here to stay!

  

Cattle Guards – Effective Livestock Barriers

To effectively keep cattle in the pasture where they belong without the use of a gate, a strong deterrent needs to be present. The standard cattle guard relies on two.

The optical deterrent

The first line of defense is the creation of a visible barrier. Cattle guards with round top rails create shadows and a perception of depth that cows pick up on as treacherous. Some studies show when presented with highly contrasting lines painted horizontally across a roadway, some cattle will be spooked enough not to cross. The optical barrier created by the shadows of the rounded rails, when coupled with the actual physical depth of the vaulted area beneath it, creates a strong disincentive for further exploration and will usually turn a cow before they even consider stepping on it.

The physical deterrent

When coupled with the visual perception of danger, the physical barrier of a Texas Gate usually creates an overwhelming urge to retreat. The most common guards are made with a round top pipe. This is so that when a large, flat-hoofed animal steps on it, it creates an unstable balancing condition for the animal. They instinctively realize it is unsafe footing and realize it is an insurmountable obstruction. They will turn away before putting any real weight on their first ‘test hoof’ and be strongly persuaded to never go near it again.

Dangers and Shortcomings of Cattle Guards

We don’t recommend cattle guards be used with all animals. Some can walk right across (goats), some can leap over (deer) and they can present an outright danger to horses if one ever gets caught up in one.

Horses

With the convenience of using these round pipe crossings as effective barriers, there are also dangers present for other animals. The gaps between the top pipes are excellent at creating unstable footing. They also add an optical impediment to crossing livestock and can create a hazard for other animals. The most at risk are horses and we strongly recommend that they not be used with equine. A horse has smaller hooves and thinner legs than a bovine. Their slender legs can slide down between the rails to the bottom of the vaulted area. This puts the most fragile part of the leg at risk of breaking.  When a flight animal such as a horse begins to struggle to try and free itself, it can break its leg trying to get out. There’s nothing worse than seeing a horse stuck in a cattle guard. We do not recommend cattle guard use with equine animals – best to use a gate.

Paws and Small Hoofs

A cattle guard is as effective with non-hoofed animals such as dogs and cats. Other smaller, sure-footed hoofed creatures like goats and sheep also cross. The soft pad of a paw allows the animals to walk across the rounded surface of the top pipe. Some smaller hoofed animals can also achieve balance on top of the rails for an easy traverse. Goats are great at balancing on almost anything including cattle guards.

Deer

One exception we have seen is with deer. Even though they have smaller hooves, they don’t like unstable footing and will usually look for other paths or routes to roam. However, due to their incredible jumping abilities, we recommend a 12′ or deeper guard to provide a sufficient deterrent for large leaps. They can easily jump a 6′ or 8′ distance but usually won’t attempt a 12′ or longer jump.

Texas Gate Summary

Whether used in a large farm and ranch operation with frequent traffic or a remote area with sporadic traffic, a cattle guard can be an excellent option for keeping your livestock contained. They’ll effortlessly keep them where you want them: grazing and growing.  Keep in mind they don’t work for all animals, but they’re a terrific option for cattle and provide the ultimate convenience for vehicles.

Visit Barn World for their large selection and ask their knowledgeable staff if a guard is right for your operation. They’re also happy to put together a quote with shipping right to your job site!

Barn World | Sales@BarnWorld.com | (720) 238-2190