Cattle bars
A cattle grid (also cattle grid , cattle grid or game screens, English Cattle grid ) is a floor-level arranged livestock lock that can be passed by vehicles without stopping, for grazing animals such as cattle or sheep , but also big game, but a difficult is to be overcome obstacle, as the Animals cannot find a firm step on it. In contrast to cattle gates , which have to be opened and closed at every crossing, cattle bars can simply be driven over and therefore do not represent a major obstacle for vehicles.
Cattle grids are mainly sited where frequent traffic rural roads or streets the fence crossing a pasture area, in order to prevent grazing animals from leaving the pasture across the road. Cattle fences are also used in wildlife parks .
design type
The grid is made of metal rods or tubes (also railroad tracks) arranged transversely to the direction of travel, between which there are gaps so large that hoofed or cloven-hoofed animals cannot safely stand on them, but vehicles can easily drive over them.
Cattle bars - depending on the type of cattle to be retained - must be long enough that they cannot be jumped over; often one finds lengths of two to three meters. Lateral barriers at animal body level prevent people from passing or bypassing the edge.
The pit under the grille is usually only a few decimeters deep so that any animals that may step through the grille can sit down firmly and return unharmed. Concrete or steel tubs can also be embedded in the pit. The excavated area must be regularly cleared of washed-in soil and vegetation, as otherwise the cattle fence will lose its function.
As a rule, there is also a gate next to the cattle fence for animals that are to pass the barrier - for example herds of cattle, riders or horse-drawn vehicles.
Horizontal stripes
From the USA it is reported that white horizontal stripes painted on the street, which only simulate a real grille, are perceived as a barrier by cattle. The simple setup and maintenance of such a “fake grid” is advantageous. The disadvantage is that the animals can see through the deception by chance, for example in an escape situation, and the facility thus loses its effect on them.
disadvantage
Small animals such as amphibians or hedgehogs that fall into the pit under the grating cannot leave them without help. If the pit is filled with water, for example after heavy rain, there is an additional risk of death by drowning. Small steps, inclined edges or boards placed diagonally in a corner can be provided as an aid to getting out.
From England there are reports of sheep that overcome a cattle fence by carefully stepping into the crevices or simply rolling over the barrier. Jumps over too short grid sections were also observed.
Cattle grids are designed for the passage of multi-lane vehicles. Pedestrians and cyclists in particular must be careful not to slip or get into the cracks.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ [1] , accessed June 28, 2016
- ↑ YouTube video of a sheep crossing a cattle fence
- ↑ http://animallamina.wordpress.com/2010/06/04/cattle-grid-in-the-way-just-roll-over-it-say-the-sheep/