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

Benefits of Cattle Guards

The benefits of having cattle guards on your property drastically outweighed the one-time burden of installation. How do you choose what design would be best for your operation? It commonly boils down to choosing between the style of the top pipe:  round or flat and the type of traffic that will be using it.

  

Round pipe cattle guards

Physical Barrier Characteristics:

The most aggressive of the steel cattle guards are made with round top pipes and provide a substantial physical livestock barrier. Its curved surface provides the least stable footing possible so your cattle can’t find a balanced or sturdy place to put their weight. The hoof will rock forward or backward and give the most uncomfortable footing possible that’s almost impossible to balance on.

Even if one of your animals does attempt to try a step on the top rail, the experience of the unsettling instability will make them turn the other way and they won’t bother to test it again. The inability to find stable footing on a round pipe is the most effective physical deterrent besides a gate.

Visual deterrent:

Both round and flat pipe cattle guards provide a visual deterrent in addition to their physical barrier. They are traditionally mounted on concrete footings like a bridge which creates an open vaulted area underneath.  The drop under the top rails provides a visual cue of depth that in itself, can prevent cattle from attempting to cross.

There have been studies done with visual illusions painted on flat asphalt that resulted in cattle turning away even though the surface was perfectly flat. Researchers painted the illusion of pipes and a corresponding shadow to create the illusion of depth. When the cattle were exposed to the artwork, they assumed it was unstable and elevated and did not attempt to cross.

This optical trick worked for a limited amount of time but eventually did break down after a few days as one of the cattle (the bravest apparently) did place a hoof on it and eventually crossed. The others soon followed and the illusion barrier on its own was defeated.

Boxes for cattle guards:

Barn World offers round pipe cattle guards that have the option of being permanently boxed, an option for laying directly on the ground, or with a removable box for cleaning underneath.

Permanent box 

A steel skirt welded around the exterior may be placed directly on the ground. The permanent box keeps dirt from creeping when used without a foundation. It does not bear any weight and is only there to prevent dirt from creeping underneath. The design is simply laid on the ground with a dirt ramp up on either side for vehicle crossings. It’s very popular for low-traffic areas and use in construction sites as wash-outs and rumble strips. It can be used to clean construction equipment before going out on a public roadway.

Removable box

The standalone box stays in the ground so you can lift the guard and clean it underneath.  The design keeps the surrounding area from being disturbed! It’s a nice feature that allows for a complete cleaning if you have the equipment to lift the guard.

The round pipe design is available in an economical private-use or highway rating. The HS20, public highway rating is 16 tons per axle and require for use in public roadway projects.

Flat Pipe Cattle Guards

The flat pipe provides the benefit of allowing high-speed traffic to cross more smoothly than a round pipe design. The pipe is flat on top with a large space between each rail. This design is still very effective against hoofs but provides high-speed vehicles with a smoother ride.

flat pipe cattle guard with concrete foundations

These cattle grids are also available to ship with precast concrete cattle guard foundations that can be lowered directly into the ground without the need for pouring concrete on-site. The foundations come with anchor bolts already poured into them. The grid may be bolted down to the concrete in the field. The precast foundations are useful in remote areas where concrete is not available.

Flat-top pipe guards are available in a wide variety of load ratings for all types of different projects:

Flat Top Pipe Load Rating Availability

H-15 (12 tons per axle)
H-20 (16 tons per axle)
U-54 (25 tons per axle)
U-80 (30 tons per axle)

Secure your livestock and provide easy access to pastures with the right cattle guards for your property. You don’t always need to open a closed gate to keep your animals secure!

For more information or help with planning, please let us know and we’ll be happy to help. Sales@BarnWorld.com or (720) 238-2190. Check out our Livestock Youtube Channel!

Livestock cattle guards have been in use for decades and with good reason:  They allow vehicles to conveniently cross a fence line without allowing a herd to wander off. Cattle guards provide effortless access to your pastures and provide the peace of mind that your animals remain safely contained, no matter who’s accessing the land.

Livestock Gates are inconvenient and less secure than cattle guards

The inconvenience of opening and closing a gate cannot be overstated.  Have you ever dreaded approaching a closed gate in a downpour or subzero temperatures knowing that you have to stop, get out and open the gate, get back in and drive through only to do it all over again to close the gate behind you?  It’s especially annoying when you’re climbing down from a large piece of equipment or when your cows are present and curious to see what the open gate is all about when you’re driving through.  These nerve-racking moments are over as soon as your cattle guard is installed.  Simply pass over the cattle guard knowing that your livestock cannot follow and carry on with your day.

It’s not just you that’s inconvenienced with a gate and third parties are not as diligent as owners when it comes to making sure it gets closed behind them.  Every someone else needs access through your fence line, there is a risk of your cattle escaping. All it takes is for one person to forget to close or not properly secure a latch and your livestock could easily slip out. This is especially important in remote areas where an open gate can go unnoticed for an extended period. Typically, it’s someone not affiliated with your operation that leaves it open, and with access granted to third parties such as oil and gas companies, cell phone tower operators, or any other organization that needs access to your land, it is difficult to ensure the gate will always be properly closed promptly.

With the installation of a cattle guard, you can be sure that anyone can drive through your property and your animals will not be wandering off.  This peace of mind (especially at night when you’re trying to fall asleep!) is a real lifesaver and you can rest assured that your neighbor or ranch-hand has not allowed your investment to roam freely into the dangers of an unconfined area.

Types of cattle guards

Although all may be considered for your operation, each type of design has its own advantages.  Take a look at the round and flat top-pipe steel construction as well as the concrete design when planning your installation.

ROUND TOP-PIPE CATTLE GUARDS

The traditional design uses a round top pipe to provide a strong, physical livestock barrier. It’s the most effective because a flat hoof is very difficult to balance on the rounded surface of the pipe. The combination of a large amount of weight balanced on a very small, unstable area creates a very strong negative feedback to the animal trying to cross. This physical deterrent is very effective even when tested by your most daring and curious cows.

The physical discomfort and the resulting avoidance reaction is made more pronounced when coupled with the visual barrier of looking through the gaps of the top pipes. Oftentimes just the confusion created by the visual cues of the perceived varying depth is enough to dissuade even walking across.  Some studies have shown that paint schemes on flat pavement designed to create the illusion of varying depths are often enough to prevent walking on, at least temporarily. The animals perceive that there is uneven ground and won’t bother investigating further.

Round top-pipe cattle guards provide the most effective physical barrier needed to keep livestock contained and allow vehicles to cross without the inconvenience or risk of an open gate.

FLAT TOP-PIPE CATTLE GUARDS

To provide a smoother crossing for automobiles, especially at higher speeds, a flat top-pipe cattle guard may be what you’re looking for.  These cattle guards are typically for use in high traffic and high-speed vehicle crossings.  The top pipe is flat and narrow so that it provides both the physical and visual barriers necessary for hoofed animals.  Its physical deterrent is not as aggressive as the round pipe, but is still effective and provides a much smoother crossing for all vehicle types.

These cattle guards are also available in higher load-carrying capacity ratings than the round pipe and are typically seen as more aesthetically pleasing for designers and homeowners.

CONCRETE CATTLE GUARD FORMS

Another great option to the traditional steel guard is the use of concrete forms.  These forms allow you to pour your own and make as many as you wish.  Concrete cattle guards are used almost exclusively in rural areas that don’t see the high traffic areas of steel guards, but they do have a lot of advantages that steel can’t compete with.

Benefits of concrete cattle guard forms

One of the best features of using forms is that you can make as many of them as you like. With detailed instructions, you can create a 16-ton per axle (HS20- rated) crossing for your heaviest vehicles!  Your only cost is that of the concrete and the plastic forms themselves. If you can mix your own concrete, this can be an extremely economical option.

Shipping costs are also substantially less than that of one-piece steel products. The forms usually ship as an oversized package and aren’t required to go on a flatbed truck via the common carriers. The shipping cost savings can be substantial and are often an important consideration for the overall cost of your project.

One word of caution with any concrete product exposed to the elements:  Keep an eye out for cracking or crumbling. Concrete doesn’t always do well with high-velocity impact and chipping or cracking can occur.  Once started, a small chip can turn into a larger area of decay and cracks can allow water to penetrate the concrete which can then freeze and crack from within. As long as you keep an eye out for external damage and patch it when necessary, concrete will last a very long time.

Whichever route you choose, a cattle guard can provide years of rugged use and the convenience and security of never having to manage the opening and closing of a gate.  It also provides peace of mind knowing that your animals are held securely in their pasture!  For more information or help with your installation, check out www.BarnWorld.com or give them a call at (720) 238-2190 and they’ll be happy to help.

Cattle Guards for Livestock Containment

Cattle guards have been the staple of livestock control on the farm and ranch for decades. Gates were the workhorse of the farm, but the inconvenience to the user-created the desire for something better; something that was automatic and didn’t require extra effort was needed for frequent access to grazing and high traffic areas.  At the other end of the use spectrum, it needed to be effective in remote areas as well.  Typically these areas see infrequent traffic and use by people that may not be related to the ranching operations and therefore not as responsible for latching gates behind them every time they accessed the area.  Realizing that flat-hoofed livestock animals (read cattle) needed flat surfaces for secure footing, the round-pipe cattle guard was born.

The problems with 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. They 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, making sure it was securely latched.  When making several trips a day through a pasture, or relying on those that needed to cross, but can’t seem to remember how to secure the gate behind them, the installation and use of a cattle guard can be a huge time saver!  It also eliminates the possibility of an open gate to provide a more secure pasture for the herd. No more searching and rounding up escaped animals because someone left a gate open!

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 that 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!

Cattle guards rely on two powerful deterrents:

The optical deterrent
To effectively keep cattle in the pasture or grazing area where they belong without the use of a gate, a strong deterrent needs to be present and the cattle guard relies on two. The first line of defense is the creation of a visible barrier. The 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 so that when a large, flat-hoofed animal steps on it, it creates such 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.

The dangers and shortcomings of cattle guards

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 and an optical impediment to crossing livestock, but they also create a hazard for other animals. The most at risk are horses and I strongly recommend that they not be used with equine. A horse has smaller hooves and legs than bovine and 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 and as a flight animal, when a horse begins to struggle to try and free itself, it can easily break its leg out of fear. There’s nothing worse than seeing a horse stuck in a cattle guard and we do not recommend their use with equine animals – best to use a gate.

Paws and Small Hoofs
A cattle guard is not effective with non-hoofed animals such as dogs and cats or with smaller sure-footed hoofed creatures like goats and sheep. The soft pad of a paw allows the animals to walk across the rounded surface of the pipe and the smaller hoofed animals can achieve balance on top of the piping for an easy traverse.

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

Texas Gate Summery

Whether 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 where you want them, grazing and growing.  Keep in mind they don’t work for all animals, but are a terrific option for cattle and convenience.  Visit Barn World for their large selection and ask their knowledgeable staff if a guard is right for your operation.

Cattle Guards and Horses

Lately, we’ve been receiving a lot of calls for cattle guard quotes from horse owners. I wanted to give a quick review of why they’re not recommended for use with horses and why a traditional livestock gate is your safest alternative.

Dangers of cattle guards

Although cattle guards are very popular and provide the ultimate ease of access to all your pastures. They can also be very dangerous when used with horses as they have a more slender hoof and leg than a cow. These physical differences can allow a horse’s hoof to slip between the cattle guard rails. When this happens, they can slide down between the top rails until they reach the bottom of the vaulted area.

This exposes one of the weakest parts of their leg directly to the cattle guard rails themselves. This ‘fall’ into the guard can lead to a struggle to free itself. It is an extremely difficult situation and can be very hard to even assist the horse in freeing itself.

The safest and the only viable alternative to a cattle guard for horses is a gate. It may be less convenient than driving over a cattle guard, but it is certainly safer than exposing your horse to a possible broken leg.

As a quick side note: Other hoofed animals can easily cross the barrier. Goats, sheep, and other sure-footed livestock that are very nimble can quickly learn how to get across the curved rails. Of course animals with pads, such as cats and dogs can also learn to tip-toe across the rails and escape to freedom!

Concrete Cattle Guards

As a quick point of interest, some concrete cattle guards are designed to prevent a hoof from sliding down between the top barriers.

The top vertical cross members are rounded concrete that tapers together to a distance of 2″ at the bottom. This prevents the hoof from falling through and exposing the leg to breakage.

Advantages Of Concrete Cattle Guard Forms

This style doesn’t require a vaulted area or foundation for support. They are built to sit directly on the ground without an open vaulted area underneath as seen in traditional designs. It’s recommended that they rest on a flat surface such as a bed of gravel to aid in drainage. Draining water away from any site is important for the longevity of any structure.

The other nice thing is that you make them yourself in a re-usable plastic form!  This is beneficial in two ways:  lower shipping costs than steel and you can make as many as you like.  Set them side-by-side to create larger crossings and never have to worry about a hoof sliding through some steel rails!

Help with cattle guards

If you’re considering using a cattle guard where horses are present, we would suggest that you use a traditional farm gate or livestock gate and realize the inconvenience of operating the gate is well worth preventing the risk of injury to your horse.

Take a look at some of our Sioux Steel Livestock Gates in the video below and if you’d like a shipping quote to your address, just let us know!

Livestock Gate review:

If you have any questions or if we can help with your cattle guard decisions, please let us know and we’ll be more than happy to help.