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January 28, 2014

Steps to Good Grounding

Grounding (a.k.a. earthing) is perhaps the most neglected component of many fence systems. We recommend three ground rods, 6’ deep and spaced 10’ apart are the minimum recommendation. Never attach copper to steel. Electrolysis can occur and result in corrosion which weakens shocking power. Use galvanized ground wire and grounding rods to avoid this problem.

Consider that most energizers use galvanized or stainless steel terminals – not copper. Think of your ground system as an antenna that gathers electricity in order to deliver the shock to the animal. Modern satellite receivers can tune in to more television channels than the “rabbit ear” antennas of the past. A hose clamp holding a piece of copper wire to a rusty t-post has been the weakest link of many electric fence systems.

Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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January 28, 2014

* FARM PHOTO CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT*

We are having a Farm and Fence Photo Contest for the month of February. Please Email us your photos of your farm, animals, fence or anything related to the farm lifestyle from now until the end of February. We will post your pics on our facebook page, send as many as you like. Selected winner of best photo will recieve a Gallagher Baseball Cap.

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January 28, 2014

We are a direct source for your Gallagher livestock electric fence needs

We are Valley Farm Supply and we were established in 2004 as a source for quality farm supplies. We offer Gallagher fence products to professional farmers, ranchers as well as hobby farmers. Valley Farm Supply is the largest gallagher dealer in the Northeastern, U.S.A. , which means we can pass along savings to you.

We are a direct source for your Gallagher livestock electric fence needs. We also handle other brands such as Speedrite electric fence products, Parmak electric fence chargers, Stafix electric fence, Cyclops fence chargers, Patriot electric fence chargers and fencing items. We sell electric fence chargers, solar chargers battery chargers, energizers, wire, netting, fence insulators, hardware, poliwire, politape, hi tensile wire, wildlife fence, horse fence, gates, electric fence tools, strainers, polirope, equibraid, reels, fence testers, grounding parts, solar panels, fencing materials, seed, equine items and farm supplies. Please ask if we can supply your farm or ranch with the things you need to be successful.

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January 02, 2014

Grazing Land Management Helps an Arkansas Farmer Reduce Effects of Extreme Drought

Cattle producers across Arkansas faced many challenges during the extreme drought of 2012. Luckily, grazing management strategies helped farmers like Randolph County’s Dale Courtney alleviate the drought’s effects. With the assistance of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, Courtney developed and implemented a conservation plan that included grazing management strategies, which helped to protect his operation from the worst of the drought and make it more efficient. Following the conservation plan, he added electric fence and pipeline to funnel water to new tire tank watering facilities in each of his pastures. Courtney also created several new pastures to allow him to move his cattle around more frequently. He implemented prescribed grazing, to make sure a minimum amount of plant cover was maintained at all times to protect the soil from erosion and compaction—this improves the quality of the forage by giving it time to recover before it’s grazed again. Prescribed grazing also improves water quality by preventing soil from eroding into the water supply. By relying on prescribed grazing, Courtney was able to avoid the cost of supplemental forage like hay, which—while never cheap—has become more expensive due to the drought.“With this system, I can go until January or February without feeding hay,” Courtney explains. He was also able to stockpile some of his cool season forages for use in the fall and early winter, saving even more money. Courtney’s cattle are provided water by fenced ponds that use a gravity flow system to supply multiple tire tank watering facilities. This saves him from having to use electricity to pump the water to the different pastures.“Mr. Courtney is an innovator; he’s a producer you can go to with new practices and ideas,” says NRCS District Conservationist Adam Eades. Courtney uses legumes, prescribed grazing and nutrient management to eliminate the need for commercial fertilizer. Cover crops like legumes can prevent erosion, improve the availability of soil water and supply nutrients like nitrogen. Legumes convert nitrogen gas in the atmosphere into soil nitrogen that plants can use, meaning manure or commercial fertilizer may be needed in smaller quantities or not at all. Working with NRCS, Courtney’s conservation plan helped get him through the drought, and his operation continues to be successful.

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December 29, 2013

High-tensile Fencing is usually the largest capital expenditure on a farm.



High-tensile electric fences last for a long time, are relatively easy to construct, and cost less than other types of fencing. Whereas cattle can often be controlled with 1 or 2 strands of electric wire, sheep require multiple strands, not so much to keep them in, but to keep potential predators out.

Five, six or seven strands of 12 ½ gauge high-tensile wire is common for sheep fences. The bottom wires of the fence are more closely spaced than the top wires. Wire spacings of approximately 6, 5, 5, 8 and 10 inches are typical. In areas where there is relatively even rainfall and some green vegetation most of the year, it is recommended that all wires be hot.

Ground return wires are recommended where there is low rainfall, stony and dry soil conditions, or where the ground is frequently frozen or snow covered. Switches can be installed so that wires can be turned off if the situation warrants. For example, it is useful to put a switch on the wire closest to the ground, so that it can be turned off if there is too much vegetation on the fence line.

 

High-tensile fences are made with smooth wire that is pulled to an initial tension of 250 pounds. They require strong corners and end braces to achieve adequate tension. The wire is held on fence posts with staples. These staples are driven at a slight angle off of vertical so the slash cut points steer the staple into different grains of the wood. The staples are not driven tight against the wire, but instead allow freedom for the wire to move during tensioning, temperature changes, or livestock pressure.

Grounding
Poor grounding is the leading cause of electric fence failures. An electric fence must be properly grounded so that the pulse can complete its circuit and give the animal an effective shock. It is important to follow manufacturer's instructions for grounding electric fences. A minimum of three ground rods should be used for each energizer. It is estimated that 80% of electric fences in the U.S. are improperly grounded. A voltmeter is an inexpensive tool that measures the charge the fence delivers and can be used to trouble shoot electric fence problems.

The charger
The charger (or energizer) is the "heart" of the electric fence system. It converts main or battery power into a high voltage pulse or "shock" as felt by the animal when it touches the fence. In the past, electric fence chargers shorted out easily. Today's chargers are low impedance, meaning they are designed to effectively shock though vegetation and other foreign materials touching the fence.

A 4,000 volt charger is usually sufficient for sheep. The number of joules needed depends on the length of the fence, the number of electrified wires and the severity of conditions. A joule is the amount of energy released per pulse. As a general rule, 1 joule will power 6 miles of single fence wire; 4.5 joules is usually adequate for 20 to 50 acres. Lightning strikes can damage energizers. Surge protectors and lightening arrestors are recommended to minimize energizer damage.

High tensile electric fencing requires periodic upkeep. Fence wires should be kept properly tensioned. Weeds and brush should be cleared from the fence line by spraying or mowing.

It is important to note that an electric fence much more of a psychological barrier rather than a physical one. Sheep and lambs must be trained to respect electric fence. Once trained, they will usually respect the fence even if it is off for any reason.

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December 28, 2013

How Do Electric Fence Chargers Work?

  • Electric fence basics

    • An electric current will only flow when a circuit is completed. If someone or something is only connected to one side of the circuit, electricity will not flow through him or it. An electric fence uses this principle to work. Pulses of electricity flow into the fence, electrifying it. Meanwhile, pulses of electricity with the opposite polarity flow into the ground via a ground rod--a large metal spike attached into the earth. If a person, animal or plant touches both the ground and the fence at the same time, the circuit is completed and electricity flows from the fence through the victim to the ground and back to the other terminal of the fence charger.

    Pulsed fence chargers

    • Pulsed fence chargers send a voltage spike through the fence about once every second or two. A device called a step-up transformer takes electricity from a power source such as a 120-volt line and increases the voltage dramatically. When alternating current flows through a coil, it creates a moving magnetic field. If there is another coil of wire nearby, that magnetic field creates an electric current in the second coil. If the second coil has more turns of wire than the first, the second coil will have a higher voltage. A timer switch turns on briefly every second or so, sending a pulse through the fence and another pulse through the ground. If nothing completes the circuit, very little electricity is used. If something connects the ground with the fence during that pulse, however, it completes the circuit and receives an electric shock.

    Capacitor chargers

    • Capacitor chargers work differently. The capacitor temporarily stores a small amount of electricity. Meanwhile, a small voltage runs into the fence. If someone touches the fence, that voltage triggers an electronic switch, which discharges the capacitor into the fence. Pulsed charges can vary considerably, but the capacitor always holds the same amount of electricity. That makes capacitor chargers more reliable and safer than pulsed chargers, which can give different shocks depending on conditions.



    • Read more: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5038662_electric-fence-chargers-work.html#ixzz2opFBaYTz

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 28, 2013

    FAULT FINDING

       

     

    There are a number of reasons for reduced voltage on the fence line.

    • Vegetation growth
    • Broken wires
    • Corrosion
    • Poor grounding
    • Bad connections
    • Poor insulation
    • Increasing the length of fence
    • TOOLS REQUIRED

    The most important piece of equipment required to check for faults is the GALLAGHER Digital Voltmeter. With the GALLAGHER SMARTFIX voltmeter you can pinpoint faults accurately.

    Also:

    • Wire strainers
    • Pliers
    • Adjustable wrench
    • Joint clamps

    FAULTS TO LOOK OUT FOR

    • Is the energizer switched on?
      Is the leadout wire connected to the energizer and the fenceline? · Is there a break in the leadout?
    • Is the earth wire connected to the energizer and earth rods?
    • Is there a break in the earthwire?
    • Are all the cutout switches turned on?
    • Is there a dead short on the fenceline?
    • Are there any faulty or broken insulators?
    • Use the fault finding chart below to help you locate faults.

    Always check the voltage at the energizer First.

    To check if the energizer is faulty, disconnect both the leadout and the ground wires and test the energizer without any load. If the energizer is reading below the manufacturer's specification there could be a fault with the energizer.

    If the energizer is reading normal then:

    • Check the Ground System before checking the fenceline.
    • Refer to the section on grounding in ENERGIZER INSTALLATION.
    • If no fault is discovered with either the energizer or the ground system, then check the fenceline.
    • The use of Gallagher Cut Out Switches makes the job of finding faults easier as different sections of the fence can be isolated.
    • When the area of fence which is at fault is switched off, the voltage on the remainder of the fence will rise.
    • Once you have isolated the section of fence at fault, move along the fenceline and take voltage readings every 330ft.
    • The readings will continue to drop until you reach, or pass the fault. After the Fault, the readings should remain constant. (Remember there may be more than one fault)

    INDUCTION
    A phenomenon known as induction is common with electric fences. This is the transfer of electricity from an electrified wire to a non electrified wire without the wires physically touching each other. This is often mistakenly blamed on insulator leakage. This phenomenon is also more common in areas where the air is damp such as in conditions of fog.

    As this phenomenon is a quirk of nature it cannot be stopped from occurring. However, to avoid receiving shocks caused by induction on non electrified fences and gates etc. you can "ground out" the offending fence by connecting a ground wire to all wires on the non electrified fence. Push the end of this wire into the ground as far as possible and this will send all the offending voltage into the ground.

     

    NOTE: Induction has very little effect on the voltage on the electrified fence.

    RADIO INTERFERENCE

    All GALLAGHER energizers comply with the usual regulations, but problems can occur for various reasons, particularly in areas with poor radio reception. These are usually noticed when an audible "click" is heard on the radio and coincides with the pulsing of the energizer.

    To reduce or eliminate the problem, look for faults in the following areas:

    • The energizer earth must be very good and should be at least 33ft away from any other ground. No part of the energizer ground system should come into contact with any buildings.
    • Avoid having any leadout wires or fencelines running parallel to telephone or power wires.
    • Check for any fence faults such as: broken insulators, poor connections and joints, any shorting caused by broken wires etc. Also check that cut out switches are not arcing.
    • Check that no underground cable has been damaged and is shorting out.
    • Walking the fencelines with a portable radio tuned off the station and on high volume is a quick and easy way to locate any electrical leakage.

    Start

    Check the voltage reading at the energizer

    Is the voltage lower than normal?

    Yes

    Is the voltage normal?

    Yes

    Has the fenceline been extended or added onto?

    Yes

    Check that the ground voltage is not greater than 300 volts (see ENERGIZER INSTALLATION)

    Yes

    A larger energizer may be required but check the fenceline first
    Upgrade your ground system (see ENERGIZER INSTALLATION)

    Check the fenceline for possible shorting at:

    Leadouts

    Joints

    Insulators

    Vegetation growth

    Accidental shorting

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 28, 2013

    HOW AN ELECTRIC FENCE WORKS

     

     

    An electric fence energizer converts mains or battery power into a high voltage pulse. The energizer releases this pulse on to an insulated fence line about once every second. The pulse itself is only around 150 microseconds long.

    This pulse is commonly referred to as the "shock" and is felt by any animal which touches an electrified fence. When the animal makes contact with the fence the circuit is complete. It is at this point the animal receives a shock. The diagram below shows how the current flows from the energizer down the fenceline and through the animal. The current then flows through the earth back to the ground system and completes the circuit. It is the shock which deters the animal from putting pressure on the fence line.

    An electric fence is a psychological barrier rather than a physical one so the animal must be educated to respect the fence. The pain that an animal feels is short lived and does not physically harm the animal, unlike barbed wire which can cause severe cuts and long lasting pain whilst also damaging the hide.

    THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS FOR CHOOSING ELECTRIC FENCING:

    • LOW COST - electric fences require less materials and labor than conventional fences.
    • EASILY CONSTRUCTED - with fewer and lighter materials.
    • LONGER LIFE - due to reduced physical pressure.
    • UNIVERSAL APPLICATION - will contain all types of animals while discouraging predators and trespassers.
    • IMPROVES EXISTING FENCES - by including 1 or 2 electrified wires in your conventional fence or by adding offsets. This will extend the fence life.
    • SIMPLICITY AND FLEXIBILITY - a quick and easy way to effectively subdivide a paddock for intensive grazing, improving pasture management and production.
    • LOW MAINTENANCE - due to reduced stock pressure.
    • LESS DAMAGE TO STOCK - the shock from an electric fence causes no physical damage to stock and if they are forced through electric fences by wild animals or bush fires there is reduced likelihood of injury.

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 09, 2013

    Gallagher MBX2500 Energizer, includes free USA shipping and free fence tester

    Special Deals on Gallagher Electric Fence

    Gallagher MBX2500 Energizer, includes free USA shipping and free fence tester

    $1,349.99 USD

    SmartPower MBX2500 Energizer

    Features
    • Powers up to 1,000 acres.
    • Stored Energy: 25 Joules (Approx.).
    • Plugs into 110-volt outlet with battery backup or battery-only operation.
    • Four large, easy-to-read digital displays show stored energy, output voltage, fence voltage and earth voltage.
    • Remote controlled to switch the energizer on/off from anywhere on the fence line.
    • Free Energizer shipping in USA!!! Free Gallagher Baseball Cap with every $500 Order!

    Dimensions:  220 (mm) / 8.7 (inch) /  310 (mm) / 12.2 (inch) /  90 (mm) / 3.5 (inch)
    Weight: 4.22 (kgs) / 9.30 (lbs)
    Warranty: 2 Year
    Colors: Black
    Product Code: G302404
      

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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    December 06, 2013

    Worried About Hormones?

    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz.
    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. Photo courtesy of Troy Walz.

    By Bruce Treffer, UNL Extension Educator

    There are a lot of concerns and mixed messages about hormones in beef. There are a few things to keep in mind the next time you hear that beef contains too many hormones.

    All multi-cellular organisms contain hormones. That’s true for animals and vegetables, but some meat production systems use hormone implants which cause the meat to have slightly more hormones than the non-implanted. True in beef, but not in pork or chicken as federal law does not permit the use of hormones in raising hogs or chickens. Implants are used to increase efficiency (i.e. feed conversion to muscle more quickly) or more muscle from less feed more quickly, which keeps prices down and reduces the environmental impact of production.

    In beef, the implanted animals will produce meat that contains slightly more of the hormone estrogen (1.9 versus 1.3 nanograms per 3 ounce serving - which is about the size of a deck of cards). Is that extra estrogen going to cause problems? Consider the facts. When hormones are eaten, they are digested, broken down and largely neutralized, so they don’t act as hormones anymore. Even if they did, the 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef seems miniscule when we consider that a child’s body produces around 50,000 nanograms of estrogen per day. An adult female (non-pregnant) will produce 480,000 nanograms of estrogen per day on its own.

    The 1.9 nanograms of estrogen in implanted beef is also miniscule compared to 225 nanograms of estrogen in potatoes, 340 nanograms of estrogen in peas, 520 nanograms of estrogen in ice cream, 2,000 nanograms of estrogen in cabbage, 11,250 nanograms of estrogen in soy milk, and 170,000 nanograms of estrogen in soybean oil… all based on a 3 ounce serving size. One birth control pill contains 35,000 nanograms of estrogen. It may be surprising to learn that there are more hormones in commonly eaten food products than there are in beef (http://go.unl.edu/uhg4 or http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p2767.pdf)!

    So why do kids seem to be growing faster and reaching puberty earlier? Genetics play a role, but hormones make far less sense than calories consumed and increased levels of body fat (i.e., childhood obesity). According to Dr. Frank Biro of the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, “BMI (body mass index) is, we found, the biggest single factor for the onset of puberty.” It is easy to blame hormones and sometimes just meat for that matter, or food in general for health problems because the general public is removed from actual food production and processing. It is human nature to be fearful of things we aren’t familiar with or that we don’t fully understand. It is always advisable to do some research and make inquiries yourself before believing everything you hear or read. If misinformation and half-truths are repeated often enough, and in sinister enough media campaign voices, they can take on a life of their own devoid of science or truth.

    For more UNL Beef information go to http://beef.unl.edu

    Written by Gallagher Electric Fencing

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