Livestock corral care includes having the right type of corral for your animals, and maintaining it properly. The size of the livestock corral and the ideal materials for it will vary, depending on the species of livestock being contained. What works well for swine may not be ideal for cattle. The materials will also depend on whether it is a permanent corral or only a temporary one, to be used for only a short amount of time. You should also consider what you will be using the livestock corral for when determining the design and structure of a corral.

If you are using a corral as a holding area for cattle, you should figure on approximately 20 square feet for each cow. You can reduce this to around 14 square feet for every calf. Corrals for cattle should generally have fences around 5 feet high. If it is a working area, the fences need to be fairly strong. Wooden or pipe gates with latches on both sides should be used. If the corral is being used only as a holding area, less sturdy materials can be used.

Swine need a fairly large corral, to allow room for exercise. If your space is limited, a rectangular pen with water and food at opposite “short” ends will help ensure the swine move around plenty within their corral. Fencing should be made of wire mesh panels, and should generally be around 48 inches tall. This height helps prevent predators from getting into the enclosure. Specially designed hog panel, with a closer mesh at the bottom of the panel, can be used to keep small swine from escaping. Ideally, a partially concrete and partially dirt floor makes a good swine enclosure. If the enclosure is entirely on concrete, add sand, for drainage, topped with shavings, for comfort.

Goats require corrals with protection from predators, but the enclosures must also be secure enough to keep the goats from escaping. Wire fence that is 48-60 inches high is usually best for this. The top and bottom of the fence should also have two rows of barbed wire. To prevent kids from injuring themselves on the barber wire while trying to get out, the bottom barbed wire should be mounted on the outside of the wire fence.

Proper livestock corral care depends on the animals being contained, the permanence of the corral, and the reason for containing them. With careful planning, livestock corral care need not be overly complicated. Securing the stock safely and humanely should always be the main goal.