No farm in Australia and most other countries could be run successfully without good fencing.It is needed to keep animals separated,to keep them off growing crops and to keep wild animals from taking over the farm.Farm gates are an important part of the fencing and if they are not strong and of the right design,they can become the weakest link in the fence.
Animals have more brains than many people give them credit for.They soon get to know that the gateway is for going in and out of.If a gate is left open it won't be long before some curious animal will go through the opening and often where one goes all the others follow,since most domestic animals are herd animals.
Gates need to have a strong means of keeping them shut that is quick and easy for the farm workers or visitors to use so that they will not be tempted to leave the gate open.Most gates are made of steel and have a thick chain to loop around them onto a steel hook of some kind.This is usually sufficient to keep animals in,although not always.
Cattle especially love to have something to scratch their heads on.The top of the head is one place that most cattle find it difficult to reach,so they rub their heads on any protrusion whether it is made of steel or is just a branch hanging low down.Cattle that rub their heads on a gate hook can sometimes lift off that chain and the gate will swing open.The next logical thing to happen is for the animal to walk through the gate.
To prevent his from happening you can get the sort of gate catch that will prevent the chain from being accidentally lifted off.It is no harder to do the gate up,but it certainly saves a lot of wasted hours chasing cattle back into the right paddock.
Gates also have to suit the type of animal that they are to keep in,so if you have sheep you will need a mesh gate.Cattle can be kept in by a gate that has a few steel bars across it and one diagonal piece for extra strength.Horse gates need to have extra height so that the horses don't try to jump over them.Gates that are meant for use in a crush or yard also need to be strong and swing easily.
