Working Ranch Magazine Summer 2025

F or many livestock producers, fence maintenance often falls to the bottom of the priority list — until something goes wrong. But as recent industry data and real world examples demonstrate, this reactive approach to fence man agement can lead to significant financial and operational consequences. THE REAL PRICE TAG OF FENCE FAILURE A recent incident involved a live stock owner facing a $21,000 insurance claim when an animal escaped through deteriorating fencing and was struck by a vehicle. Beyond the immediate financial impact, the producer lost their insurance coverage and faced higher premiums with a new provider. According to research from North Carolina State University Extension, farmers can be held liable for damages even in cases where negligence isn’t immediately apparent (NCSU Extension). A leading livestock litigation consultant shared these key points regarding colli sion liability: ● Pasture fences located within 3 miles of a major roadway are considered high-risk to a possible collision event, requiring a greater degree of atten tion, maintenance and due diligence. ● Management decisions that increase the risk of a collision event include: » Lack of structural integrity of the enclosure; » Breeding bulls that are following an estrus scent; » Cattle not having their basic daily needs met and are forced to create a breach in order to obtain what they need. ● The legal process to reach a set tlement is an extremely unpleasant, lengthy, costly and emotionally drain ing journey that can be avoided if management decisions reflect a posi tive effort to do your best to decrease the chances of one occurring.

How Much is Your Old Fence Costing You?

HIDDEN COSTS THAT ADD UP: ● Ongoing maintenance and replacement parts ● Time and labor for emergency repairs ● Veterinary bills from livestock injuries ● Lost productivity on other essential farm tasks ● Potential liability issues and insurance complications THE TIME-VALUE EQUATION While farmers traditionally undervalue their time spent

Beyond the immediate financial impact, hidden costs continue to accumulate. As Van Medley, Bekaert Fence Pro explains, “If you have an older fence, typically you end up investing a lot of your time and effort into keeping livestock in and in the long run, producers end up replac ing the fence anyway one piece at a time. It’s not always the right strategy to patch it together where more money could end up being spent.”

66 I SUMMER 2025 WORKING RANCH audited readers run 21 million head of beef cattle.