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How to Cut a Cattle Panel

| Updated August 11, 2017

Things You'll Need

  • Carpenter's chalk

  • 2 saw horses

  • Circular saw

  • Hack saw

  • Bolt cutters

Warnings

  • Cut along a vertical bar if possible to avoid horizontal bars left sticking out on the end. If the place you need to cut is in between bars, plan to cover up the end with a board.

Cattle panels, also known as "stock panels," are sections of fencing made of heavyweight galvanized steel rods that are welded at every intersection. The rods are placed to make 4-inch squares until approximately 6 inches from the bottom, where the horizontal bars are placed closer together to prevent adult animals from getting their noses and heads through and young animals from slipping through. The panels are typically 48 inches high and 16 feet long. They can be cut to fit a particular fencing configuration.

Measure the area you are planning to fence. Mark with carpenter's chalk the place on the stock panel where you need to cut.

Space the saw horses apart so that the panel lays across them securely with the excess beyond your chalked cutting line hanging over the outer edge.

Cut the panel. Use a circular saw with a steel-cutting blade, if you are experienced using a circular saw power tool. Cut the panel by hand with a hack saw if you are not experienced with using power tools. The hack saw will cut through each horizontal rod one at a time with relative ease.

Use heavy duty bolt cutters to cut each bar to cut the stock panel if you do not have a circular saw or hack saw. Bolt cutters can also be used to cut a single rod of the panel or to create an opening for access to a feed tub or water bucket, for example.