Correct cattle guard placement ?

[bcarwell]

I have a 6 x 14 cattle guard I am placing on the entrance to my property line. Should it straddle the property line with 3 feet on the outside and 3 feet on the inside ? OR should it all be on the inside with the outer edge in line with the fence ?

I have a midpasture cross fence and that one's a no brainer- half on one side and half on the other since I've got cattle on both sides.

But the reason I'm asking about the one at the entrance is that (theoretically) cattle are only on ONE side, e.g. in my property. I don't see what purpose having half of it outside my property would be serving.

Note: the cattle guard has wings so I don't think them ooching around the side of the cattle guard onto safe ground outside the property is an issue if I put it all inside the fence line. But I'm not completely confident of the effectiveness of the wings. But why not a full 6 feet of cattle guard deterrent to them getting outside the property ?

Bob

 

[maybar]

I have a 6 x 14 cattle guard I am placing on the entrance to my property line. Should it straddle the property line with 3 feet on the outside and 3 feet on the inside ? OR should it all be on the inside with the outer edge in line with the fence ?

I have a midpasture cross fence and that one's a no brainer- half on one side and half on the other since I've got cattle on both sides.

But the reason I'm asking about the one at the entrance is that (theoretically) cattle are only on ONE side, e.g. in my property. I don't see what purpose having half of it outside my property would be serving.

Note: the cattle guard has wings so I don't think them ooching around the side of the cattle guard onto safe ground outside the property is an issue if I put it all inside the fence line. But I'm not completely confident of the effectiveness of the wings. But why not a full 6 feet of cattle guard deterrent to them getting outside the property ?

Bob

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Nearly every one in my area is set back several feet to allow enough room for 18 wheeler bull haulers to make the turn. I guess how far back would be somewhat determined by the road width, ditches etc. I've never seen one protrude out past the property line probably because that could interfere with county/state road maintenance.

 

[weldingisfun]

What Maybar said. Set it back into your property, especially if the entrance is along a service road.
Another reason would be to avoid any property line disputes with whomever is on the other side of your property line.

 

[RickB]

You really have no business installing it on any property other than your own. With that in mind, whatever you have to do to make it work on your property is what has to happen. I've seen Angus clear an 8' cattle guard without breaking stride.

 

[bcarwell]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I should have said fence line rather than "property line". My fence line is about 30 feet from the County Road. So if I installed it straddling the fence line the part extending beyond my fence line would still be on my property. Same question though, should it just come up to the fence line and not beyond it ? I'm gathering the answer is "yes", just up to but not beyond the fence line, right ?

 

[Wooddust]

Id never trust a cattleguard to keep them off a public road but thats just me. I've watched 600 pound heifers go over them and not skip a beat. Inside property that are the ticket but a main entrance is too risky for me

 

[two_bit_score]

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I should have said fence line rather than "property line". My fence line is about 30 feet from the County Road. So if I installed it straddling the fence line the part extending beyond my fence line would still be on my property. Same question though, should it just come up to the fence line and not beyond it ? I'm gathering the answer is "yes", just up to but not beyond the fence line, right ?

How are others in your area installed?

 

[weldingisfun]

I have always said that to a goat a cattle guard is nothing more than a temporary distraction. From what y'all are saying, that goes for cattle as well.:laughing:

 

[bcarwell]

Actually the cattle guard I'm talking about is not intended to be the only guard to access to the publice road. I have an electric gate, so the guard is intended only as backup in the event we drive off and don't want to wait for the gate to close in case it doesn't close. Good suggestion (duh, why didn't I think of it) to check the ones around me although I'm not sure they always think things through completely...

And how DEEP would you make it ? A neighbor thinks my bull is walking through the cattle guard (not jumping the fence) because it is only 1 1/2 feet deep and you can see the bottom. But I thought that was enough to discourage him and thought if it was very deep and he tried it he might break a foreleg. But neighbor says they shouldn't be able to see the bottom. I've never seen the bull walk across it but did see him once with one leg between the pipes...

Bob