Electric Fence Help?

[toledo]

I need to build 7500ft of fence to hold a small number of cattle on 70 acres for 6 months then it will all be rolled up and trashed.

I want galvanized wire?
Does gauge matter as far as length of runs and electricity? How about for strength?

Chargers need to be solar. I don't mind spending more on them because Ill reuse them elsewhere afterwards. Charger recommendations?

Can I get by with a single strand? If so, how high off the ground?

[kcmarullo]

I use A single strand with a 25 mile charger with no problems, I have it about 2 ft off the ground.

[BrianL]

Parmak DF-SP-LI is What I have had the best luck with. Not sure if I have the 12V or 6 V

[waffles]

I have a 3300 foot run with 1 wire, one cow jumped it and they all followed, went back and redid it with 2 wires and then never had a problem. I had a Pacemaker Battery/Solar 30 mile on it, with a 6ft ground rod

[dclifton]

Gallagher S100 is what i use. I have had way better luck with the Aluminum wire. Granted it will break easier. But the continuity you get is WAY better from what i have noticed.

A good ground is important. You can get cheap copper ground rods at electical supply house. Way cheaper than TSC or atwoods. Good Ground is very important. I use the clamps with the nut then just cut rebar to drive in. Atwoods also started carrying 1.50$ fibergalss smooth rods you can use with these.

The platic posts with multiple clips are junk they break off way to easy.

I have had good luck with a single wire about 2ft off the ground. The white posts rods with orange loop on top are to high IMO. Claves will go under it and or let it hit there neck then dart through. I dont have any cows that jump really unless pressured so not an issue. I would run 2 though if i had the time just be safe. One at 18ish i would think and one at 32-36" maybe roughly.

Gallagher chargers are worth the money IMO. Now for the rest of the stuff i just buy whatever is cheapest at atwoods etc.

[Sasqy]

I run 3 wire to make sure !
Hot on top, ground in middle, hot on bottom.
If ground is too dry or rocky, won’t shock cows properly without a ground wire in parallel.

[Blackmouth]

Don't skim on the ground, I would use 3 ground rods if possible, they don't cost that much.

If the cows are trained, I single wire 28-32" is good. If not, 2-3 wires won't hurt. I space mine about 9-10" apart.

I prefer 12.5 gauge hi-tensile, only 4,000 foot rolls I can find are at Tractor Supply (TSC).

I've heard Cyclops are good chargers but I've never used one. The TSC solar charger has worked better for me than the Parmak I have. My best is a Kencove 16J dual charger but I use it as a mains charger.

[SaintBlaise]

OP, not sure if you want to use galvanized. But, why not use the temporary type(polywire)? You can put it on a reel and pick it up much easier than the galvanized. One strand can work for the cows if it stays fault free. If you have any calves, they will be the ones that can escape. Also with the temp wire, it's very easy to make one or two strand gates.

[Rubberdown]

Our cows don’t really test it. 3 8 foot ground rods far apart with good connection back to the fence energizer. Im just using 14g galvanized and have never had any issues. Have probably 5 miles of electric fence up. I did one high and one low. Have 3 wires around the house as we had calves rolling under it somehow. One thing I got told starting out was get some of that plastic caution tape and tie a piece of it on every 10 or whatever feet. It flutters, the cows nose it and get shocked, and then they decide they don’t want to mess with it any more. Better than them leaning into it to find out. Maybe their noses are more sensitive? I don’t know but it works.