6 Best Culvert Grates For Keeping Livestock Out Old Farmers Swear By
Protect your livestock and prevent costly blockages. We review 6 durable culvert grates farmers trust to keep animals safe and water flowing freely.
There’s no feeling quite like the phone call from a neighbor that starts with, "Hey, is that your cow in my petunias?" One look at the fenceline reveals the culprit: a wide-open culvert pipe, an invitation your curious livestock couldn’t refuse. A secure farm is a series of strong points, and an uncovered culvert is the weakest link in your entire chain. Getting this one piece of infrastructure right saves you headaches, money, and panicked late-night animal roundups.
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Why a Good Culvert Grate is Non-Negotiable
An open culvert is more than an inconvenience; it’s a liability. Livestock, especially cattle and goats, are hardwired to explore. To them, that dark pipe isn’t a drainage ditch—it’s a new adventure, a shortcut to greener grass, or a path straight into the road.
The consequences range from annoying to tragic. A single cow wandering onto a county road can cause a serious accident. An escaped herd can decimate a neighbor’s carefully tended garden or crops, creating bad blood that lasts for years. Worse, animals can get stuck or injured in the culvert itself, leading to expensive vet bills or the loss of a valuable animal.
Don’t forget the other direction. A culvert is also a potential entry point for predators. Coyotes and stray dogs see that opening as a covered tunnel straight into your pasture. A sturdy grate protects your flock or herd from threats getting in just as much as it keeps them from getting out. It’s a fundamental piece of farm security.
IronClad Heavy-Duty Bar Grate for Big Herds
When you’re dealing with full-grown cattle or a bull, you can’t mess around. This is where the heavy-duty bar grate comes in. Think thick, welded, high-tensile steel bars that look like they belong on a bridge. There’s no finesse here, just brute strength.
The primary advantage is its sheer durability. A 1,500-pound steer will lean on it, test it, and quickly learn it’s not going anywhere. These grates are built to withstand immense pressure from both animals and the occasional piece of farm equipment. They also allow for excellent water flow, reducing the chance of flooding during a heavy downpour because the gaps are wide and simple.
The tradeoff is weight and cost. These things are heavy, often requiring two people or a tractor to install. They are also a significant upfront investment. Cleaning is another challenge; while surface debris washes through, anything that gets lodged underneath can be a real pain to remove without lifting the entire, cumbersome unit. This is the right choice for a permanent, high-pressure containment point.
Tarter Hinged Pasture Guard for Easy Cleanout
For most hobby farm situations, practicality trumps brute force. The Tarter Hinged Pasture Guard is a brilliant design that solves the biggest headache of culvert grates: debris. After a big storm, leaves, sticks, and mud can turn a standard grate into a dam, flooding your pasture.
The genius is in the hinge. Instead of wrestling with a heavy, fixed grate, you simply pull a pin or lift the guard like a lid. You can then easily rake out the accumulated junk, drop the grate back down, and secure it. This turns a 30-minute, back-breaking job into a two-minute task.
This convenience comes with a consideration. The hinge mechanism, while sturdy, is a potential weak point compared to a solid, welded unit. It’s perfect for pasture cross-fencing and low-traffic areas. However, I’d be hesitant to use it on a main farm driveway where heavy trucks or a loaded hay wagon will be driving over it constantly.
Behlen Country Economy Guard: A Budget Option
Not every situation calls for a fortress. If you’re managing a small flock of sheep or a couple of calm dairy cows and your budget is tight, an economy guard is a perfectly sensible choice. These grates get the essential job done without the premium price tag.
They are typically made from lighter-gauge steel or have a simpler, less reinforced design. For animals that aren’t actively trying to break through a fence, this is often more than enough of a deterrent. They are lighter, easier to install by yourself, and leave more money in your pocket for other farm needs.
You are, however, trading long-term durability for upfront savings. A spooked animal hitting it at a run could potentially bend or dislodge it. This is not the grate for a bull pasture or a herd of flighty yearlings. But for a quiet back pasture with a low-pressure culvert, it’s a smart, economical solution.
Priefert Grate: Top Choice for Sheep & Goats
Sheep and goats play by different rules. They are masters of squeezing through small gaps, and their smaller hooves present a unique danger. A standard cattle grate with wide bar spacing is a broken leg waiting to happen.
Priefert and similar brands design their guards specifically for these smaller animals. They often feature a tighter grid or mesh pattern. This design prevents a slender leg or a curious head from getting trapped, which is one of the most common injuries for small ruminants around fencing.
These grates don’t need to withstand the force of a cow, so they can be built from lighter materials, making them easy to handle. The focus is on smart design, not just raw strength. If you have goats, you know they will test every inch of a barrier. A grate with properly spaced bars is non-negotiable for their safety.
Cattle-Guard Formed Steel Drive-Over Grate
Sometimes the problem isn’t just keeping animals in, but letting vehicles through. If your culvert is on a main path between the barn and the pasture, you need a solution that doesn’t involve stopping to open a gate every time. This is where a true cattle guard comes in.
These are not simple covers; they are engineered systems. Made of rounded or angled pipes or formed steel, they create a visual and physical barrier that livestock refuse to cross. The uneven surface is deeply unsettling for hoofed animals, yet it provides a smooth crossing for truck and tractor tires.
This is a major infrastructure project. It requires excavating a proper foundation and is the most expensive option by a wide margin. But for a high-traffic driveway, the efficiency and convenience are unmatched. It solves two problems at once: animal containment and vehicle access.
Welded Rebar Grid: The DIY Farmer’s Choice
Many farmers live by the motto: "Why buy it when I can build it?" If you have a welder and some scrap rebar, you can create a perfectly functional culvert grate for a fraction of the cost of a store-bought one. This is the ultimate custom solution.
The key is using heavy-gauge rebar and planning your spacing with care. For cattle, 4- to 5-inch spacing is a good target—wide enough for water and debris to pass, but too narrow for a hoof to slip through and get stuck. For sheep and goats, you’ll want that spacing much tighter, around 2 to 3 inches. A solid frame made of angle iron will prevent the rebar from bending under weight.
The biggest pro is the cost and customization. You can build it to fit any odd-sized or crumbling old culvert. The huge con is that its integrity rests entirely on your welding skills. A single failed weld under the weight of an animal can be catastrophic. If you’re not confident in your welds, this is one project better left to the pros.
Choosing the Right Grate Size and Material
The single most important factor in your choice is the animal you’re trying to contain. The force a 100-pound goat can exert is nothing compared to a 2,000-pound bull. Always buy or build for the strongest, most determined animal in your herd.
Next, consider the material and finish.
- Heavy-gauge steel: The standard for strength and durability.
- Galvanized steel: Offers superior rust and corrosion resistance. It’s a wise investment for something that will spend its life in a wet environment.
- Powder coating: A tough finish that also prevents rust, though it can chip over time if driven over frequently.
Finally, measure twice. The grate needs to be larger than the culvert opening, resting securely on solid ground on all sides so it can’t be pushed in. Pay close attention to bar spacing. It’s a delicate balance between allowing water to flow freely and ensuring the safety of your animals’ legs. When in doubt, err on the side of narrower spacing.
Ultimately, a culvert grate isn’t an expense; it’s an insurance policy. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing your animals are safe, your fences are secure, and you won’t be getting any more phone calls about a cow in the petunias. Choosing the right one for your specific animals and situation is one of the smartest decisions you can make for the smooth operation of your farm.
