11 homemade livestock and ranch hacks to try on your farm

Looking for some advice or ideas for your livestock ranch? Successful Farming and Living the Country Life have gathered together 11 ideas worth trying on your property.

Hose holder

My hose was always popping out of the livestock tanks when I filled them. I now loop the hose through the two holes of a brick and drop the brick in the tank.

– N.W., Missouri

Hay cover 

I use a large satellite dish as a cover for my round bale. I mounted it on three posts above the bale feeder, bolted it to the top of the posts, and tied a tarp over the top. I dug out and put concrete around the posts, as the wind caused it to lean a little the first year.

– J.W., Virginia

Fence ladders

We built fence ladders to keep people from leaving livestock gates open. We made ours from landscape timbers, but 2x4-inch boards work just as well. The platform is made of 2x6-inch boards, and carriage bolts secure the rungs to the uprights

– J.B., Ohio

Hay feeder

We fashioned a horse hay feeder out of a free brine tank and scrap ¾-inch conduit. Five pieces of conduit are bent and screwed into the brine tank, creating a grate that conserves hay. Spacing between each bar is roughly 7 inches. 

– K.S. Michigan

Used hose bucket

Miscellaneous plumbing parts (trap and straight piece) and an old hose are great for keeping the hose in the bucket. I have four water buckets behind my barn and need to move the hose to each bucket. I cut the end off an old hose and run it through the plumbing parts.

– N.L., North Carolina

Fence pipe

In order to crawl through a barbed wire fence, I cut two 3-inch-diameter PVC pipes to 3-foot lengths, sliced them narrowly down the middle, and then slid the pipe on the barbed wire. I can now crawl through the fence without getting poked.

– J.M., Texas

Cattle fence

When introducing cattle to a new pasture that is fenced with a one-wire electric fence, I tie plastic grocery bags to the wire, one on each span. This makes the fence more visible to both the cattle and deer. And, of course, there’s no cost.

– M.A.H., Minnesota

Feed storage

For mouseproof feed storage, an old chest freezer that has quit running works great. Place the freezer in the alleyway or corner and scoop grain out whenever needed. As a plus, it is well insulated. That keeps sweet feed for horses (grain-pellet mix with molasses) from freezing into a solid block during the winter.

– K.K., Minnesota

Feeder topper

I designed a simple round bale feeder topper to keep horse feed out of the sun and rain. The 8-foot vinyl circle has brass grommets every 12 inches around the perimeter to tie it down. A metal dome top frame prevents water from pooling on the roof.

– K.R., Kansas

Walk-through fence

I have a simple fence line modification to help avoid constantly opening and shutting gates. By placing two additional posts and short rails, I can have a walk-through that the horses can’t use because they can’t bend that way.                          

 – T.D., Florida

Sturdy stall mats

Used conveyor belts make good stall mats and can be used to prevent muddy paths. Cut them into manageable sizes, drill holes in the corners, and secure them to the ground using 12-inch spikes.

– K.W., Oregon