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Securing your livestock

Source: CF Fence

At CF Fence in southern Okanagan, BC, owner Alan Cossentine recognizes the value and importance of safe, reliable fencing for livestock on farms and ranches.

Back in 2001, Cossentine discovered that the gate openings on his property were not standard sizes and he was faced with two choices to upgrade the gates from the old, heavy wooden ones to new, light-weight, easier-to-open pipe gates: He either had to rebuild the openings to accommodate standard size gates, or make his own custom gates.

He went for the custom approach. In December that year, a friend helped him start building gates and panels to fit his fencing needs. That was when CF Fence was born. Then, using the pipe technology, he built a rectangular bale feeder to accommodate the large square hay bales he was feeding his cattle.

Word spread. Typically, local farmers have specific fencing and equipment needs for their operations and the buzz was on that there was a place to get custom gates and panels. He started receiving orders and has never looked back.

A no-climb mesh gate with wheel, one of the many practical and affordable products created by CF Fence.

Today, CF Fence manufactures quality products that are safe, reliable, user-friendly and cost effective. The bulk of orders are for continuous fencing, panels, gates, panel gates, bale feeders, and fire sprinklers.

Above: Continuous fence panels can be used for riding rings, paddocks of all sizes, and are economical for large pastures. These panels look great year after year with no maintenance required because they are weather and livestock resistant.

Above/Below: Deer gates are eight feet high, come in standard lengths from four to eighteen feet long, and may be customized to suit special requirements. They are available in different styles, and are especially useful for orchardists and vineyards whose property is surrounded by deer fence and need access to various areas via companion gates.

CF Fence uses 1.625-inch galvanized pipe in three different gauges to offer light- to heavy-duty fencing options, and uses ripple pipe rather than galvanized strap uprights to hold the fence’s crosspieces in place. This provides additional strength and safety as ripple pipe eliminates the cuts and scrapes livestock can get from strap uprights in conventional fencing.

Above/Below: “If I can draw it, I can build it,” says Alan Cossentine, owner of CF Fence.

CF Fence also makes custom items such as chutes, calf creep gates, arena harrows, and rooftop fire suppression sprinklers, and can provide special needs for horse trailers such as panels and saddle racks. Dog runs can also be manufactured to custom specifications. CF Fence also builds and installs traditional wooden farm and ranch fences.

CF Fence responded to the Okanagan fires of 2002 by fabricating fire sprinklers. Their line consists of a rooftop fire suppression model, designed to straddle a roof peak to wet down the roof in the event of a fire threat, and a ground model sprinkler on wheels, designed to be moved easily where needed. Irrigation gun stands can be made for any size of pipe hookup. 

“When we asked some of our neighbours who was the go-to guy for fencing Al's name came up every time. We had high expectations of what we wanted it to look like and it turned out better than we imagined.” — Tyrone Swetman

Learn more on the CF Fence website: www.cffence.com.