UNIVERSITY PARK (Centre Co.) Staff in Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Animal Science have installed state-of the-art fencing at the Haller Farm facility. Developed in Australia, spider fencing delivers electricity across a durable super-fine wire. This permanent fencing powers a portable fence in the form of a hand-held reel of white tape (or orange for contrast against snow). By walking in a circle behind the cattle and unwinding the tape, a single worker can herd cattle into another pasture or even a chute or truck ramp. “Cattle quickly learn to respect the single strand of electrified tape and rarely challenge it,” said Richard F. Todd, assistant beef and forage herd manager and resi dent fencing expert. “The tape can be draped over easily placed tem porary fence posts to quickly adjust pasture size or to allow tem porary grazing of crop residues such as com stalks.” Todd said the new fencing’s flexibility requires fewer people to manage livestock and permits improved forage growth and utilization. Penn State Installs Fencing A summary of research and demonstration activities on beef cattle improvement, fencing and facilities, pasture management, and winter feeding systems is available from Penn State’s Department of Dairy and Animal Science. The 19-page publication describes fencing and animal handling facilities, plant species and forage utilization systems, and genetic and production improvement programs at Penn State’s Haller Farm. The report traces the 20-year development and evaluation of fencing, includ ing facilities such as corrals and working chutes, various pasture species, winter shelter and feed ing, and cattle breeding and selection. Herd production levels current ly average 6SO pounds or more for 205-day, non-creep-fed weaning weight, 95 percent weaned calf crop, slaughter weight at 14 months of age for steers of 1,200 pounds, with two thirds of the steers grading Choice or higher. The report was compiled by Lowell L. Wilson, professor of Richard F. Todd, assistant beef and forage herd manager and resident fencing expert at Penn State's Haller Farm, demonstrates state-of-the-art fencing recently installed at the facility. animal science; Peter J. LeVan, Copies are available for S 2 son > The Pennsylvania Stole Uni operations manager of Penn or 10 for $l2 by calling ve rsity, 324 Henning Building, SBB’sbof herds; and RictordF. 863-3663 w wiSig filwJ University Park, PA 16802. Lancaster Fanning, Saturday, July 31, 1993»A2t>
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