How are Highlands with hot wire fencing?

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Considering which breed to get, since the pastures are a bit rough, I though maybe Highlands. I seem to remember, though, that they are less respectful of hot wire than other breeds, and that's what I will have to use for a good portion of the fencing. Does anyone have any experience with Highlands and electric fencing?

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), November 05, 2001

Answers

I have Highlands but keep them contained with regular farm fencing. The man I bought them from kept his Highlands in with just 2 or 3 strands of bobwire, not hot. He told me and I believe this to be so that Highlands are very easy on fencing. They do have access to my orchard which only has chain link up with Tposts and they haven't bothered it.

If they are less respectful of hot wire, perhaps it is because they have so much hair that they can't feel the electric as quickly and because they can't see it. A lot of that hair hangs over their eyes. Make sure the wires are visible with lots of plastic flags tied on.

-- r. (thor610@yahoo.com), November 05, 2001.


My good friend has 2 Highland cows behind 1 strand of electric.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), November 05, 2001.

I have a friend with a herd of about 12-13 Highlands and they do fine with minimal barbwire fence with electricity on it.

-- Jennifer L. (Northern NYS) (jlance@nospammail.com), November 05, 2001.

Our highland cattle do not try our fence. It is an older wood fence that is quite weak in a few spots and we have not had any trouble. We have also added some new fence and it is incomplete with only two wires (not hot) and they still do not try to get out. I think they are easy on fences.

-- Cindy Clarke (rclarke@revelstoke.net), November 06, 2001.

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