Better fence, better beef

March 22, 2011

Hey fellow seekers,

When somebody in this township hears black cows are out and they have yellow ear tags, I might get a call. If they’re mine, it usually goes back to a gate closure error or the last 1/4 mile of sorry perimeter fence, with wire from 3 to 63 years old grown into a tree line.

This week, the last of the worst was replaced by professionals. Like most cattlemen, I can make a fence. But I must admit I am better at removing it, which was job one on this project.

The new ranchhand, Mosey, came along to see if there were sticks to fetch. Yep, we have a new dog, a half-sister to Mr. Barkley, but seemingly much calmer and smarter. She likes to sleep on the flatbed, always ready to go out to see the cows or anything else.

After rolling up the good, then the rusty barbwire, I cut down a few fenceline trees and Anne helped pull 100 steel posts, most of which could be reused. Looking at the remaining trees, it became apparent another class of professional with heavy equipment would be needed to make way for the fence. Brad and Tim fit this little job into their bulldozing schedule so the fence could take shape before the next spring rains.

Even before the dozer arrived, however, Ted and crew were there putting up an ideal 5-wire barrier where the junk had been. Ted is a craftsman with a long legacy of making better neighbors through better fences. Cows don’t get out and bulls stay where they should be, which makes for more predictable genetics and fewer headaches.

As I wrote in a Black Ink column five years ago, “Most fences start and end with corner posts,” which are like the principles that anchor your life and business. “If you are on the fence about something, get more information, climb down and get on with life.” Until recently, I had debated trying to patch that old fence yet again so as to just get through another year. But then I realized, that’s not how I try to run other aspects of the farm or cattle herd.

Anyway, having this new fence line in place inspires me to complete the less-critical division fences and the EQIP creek-exclusion fence that will aim for Ted quality, except I’ll use the 3-year-old rolls rescued from the roadside fence. That will give us eight paddocks for the pasture rotation.

Until next time let’s aim for profit, target the brand and build tomorrow together.

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