CUSTOMIZATION IS KEY

Western Fence owner Lance Harvey brings years of personal experience with livestock to the table of the design team. Having been raised on a working cattle ranch, and being involved in the cattle market his entire life, Lance knows what it takes to build a solid livestock facility.

“I was raised on a cattle ranch, and I have been working with cattle my entire life, working for different ranches and sale barns around the United States. I feel that this has made me gain a new perspective, and understand a lot in the field that I specialize in. I have complied a list of personal perspective to help guide you in the right direction when designing and planning your new livestock facility.” – Lance Harvey, Owner of Western Fence Company

• I have come to learn that you can build the nicest corral ever built but if cattle do not flow correctly through it, and in a natural way, you haven’t truly succeeded. Cattle need to enjoy their corrals like we enjoy our own house. In other words, if you aren’t comfortable in your own home, you are going to be stressed. The same goes for cattle and other livestock.
•  The old phrase “if it’s not broke, don’t fix it” is what I live by. What I mean by this is, if your corrals are old and broken down and you’re tired of dragging gates, nailing up boards and plugging holes with panels and you’re thinking you want new corrals, that’s great. However, I always suggest that if your cattle flow good through it now, even with its faults, then try to stick with your general layout. Of course, you can always upgrade materials, and make your corrals more user-friendly! Sometimes ranchers try to change the program totally and feel that’s not always the best. Cattle are just like people when it comes to structures. You just like what you’re used to!
• If you don’t have a corral, I like to look at the ranch layout with the customer and get a plan together and try to find out the best way that ranch should be gathered and find the optimal placement for the corral. Sometimes this is easier said than done, but patience and professional experience always pays off!
• When designing a corral make sure it is designed to be safe for your employees, help, friends, family and most importantly, for the cattle. It is essential to provide a good flow for your cattle, keep away from direct corners where cattle have a greater chance of moving quickly, and keep your alley-ways smooth. I feel these are a few simple things we can plan, to create less stress on both the cattle and the rancher. I was always raised with the old saying “less stress on the cattle, more pounds on the scale!”