Perennial problems with electric fences

I had more excitement this morning than I wanted.

Sprite's cattle decided that they wanted to be in the next paddock and in the garden.

Since they weren't acting like they were heading to the road, I had time to be deliberate.

I drove fence posts to subdivide the paddock they were in. 

I turned off the energizer

I spread shelled corn to pull them into the half I wanted them in.

I ran a wire at 15 inches and baling twine at 36 for visibility.

I repaired the stretch they had pushed through.

I turned the energizer back on.

I moved the water and salt.

I refilled the water.

Then I checked the fence. No voltage.

Rats.

I disconnected most of the fence with the knife-blade switches I installed earlier this year. Still no voltage.

I finally found it. Something (a deer?) had pushed the woven wire fence into the barbed wire. A barb caught and held the fence. A quick tap with the screwdriver and the hot wire popped off.

I would venture that half of my shorts are related to this issue. The Captain was frugal to a fault. He was big on re-purposing fence wire and simply HAD to reuse barbed wire.

I think it is time to invest about $60-to-$120, strip out the barbed and run smooth, galvanized.