Low-Cost Wooden Cattle Guard

Low-Cost Wooden Cattle Guard LIVESTOCK Beef Larry Majerus’ wooden cattle guard has worked great since he installed it 18 years ago The cost of replacing it this year cost twice what it was originally but it’s still a good deal “The replacement cost $192 using sawmill rejects ” says Majerus “I installed the original in 1994 and the cattle have only crossed it once when we had 14 in of snow that filled in the pit and covered the planks ” Majerus doesn’t plan any changes to the original design The pit will stay 18 in deep 7 ft wide and 16 ft long left to right Four railroad ties sit crossways in the 16-ft long trench “I’ve checked them and they’re still solid with no signs of rot ” says Majerus The original cattle guard used 8-ft long 3 1/2 by 6-in oak planks set on edge on the ties Majerus offset the planks on the center tie to get uniform spacing He is using 16-ft planks on the new guard He plans to nail 10-in long pressure-treated 2 by 4’s to the ties to serve as spacers between the planks “I will put pressure-treated 1-in boards along the outside planks to protect them from soil contact ” explains Majerus “Anything that keeps them away from the dirt helps ” Majerus says the wooden cattle guard stands up well to equipment traffic “A 30-ton well drilling truck drove over it recently without a problem ” he says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Larry Majerus 2246 Double Bridges Rd Spout Spring Va 24593 ph 434 352-2921; rmajerus@region2000 org

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