6 Best Metal Gates For Livestock Safety That Old-Timers Swear By
Explore the 6 best metal gates for livestock safety, trusted by seasoned ranchers. Learn which durable, time-tested options offer maximum security.
There’s a specific kind of dread that hits when you walk out to the barn and see a gate swinging in the breeze, its latch broken and the pasture beyond it empty. That moment is a stark reminder that a gate isn’t just a barrier; it’s a critical piece of farm infrastructure. The right gate keeps your animals safe, your fences intact, and your neighbors happy.
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Why Gate Gauge and Welds Matter More Than Paint
A fresh coat of paint looks nice, but it can hide a multitude of sins. The two things that truly determine a gate’s longevity and strength are the thickness of its steel and the quality of its welds. Don’t let a glossy finish distract you from what really matters.
The thickness of the steel tubing is measured in gauge. It’s a bit counterintuitive: the lower the gauge number, the thicker and stronger the steel. A 16-gauge gate is significantly more robust than a 20-gauge gate and will stand up to a leaning cow far better. For most general-purpose applications, look for 16-gauge; for high-pressure areas, even heavier is better.
Next, inspect the welds where the tubes connect. You want to see continuous, solid welds, not just a few "tack" spots holding things together. A good weld fuses the metal, creating a joint that’s stronger than the surrounding steel. A poor weld is a weak point just waiting for a pushy animal to find it.
Tarter Red Bull Gate: The All-Purpose Standard
If there’s a gold standard for a reliable, all-around farm gate, the Tarter Red Bull is it. You’ll see these distinctive red gates on farms everywhere for a reason. They hit the sweet spot of durability, function, and value for most common situations.
Built from 16-gauge steel tubing, the Red Bull features vertical Z-braces that add significant rigidity and prevent sagging over time. The welds are consistently clean and continuous, and the powder-coated finish does a good job of fending off rust for years. It’s the kind of gate you hang once and don’t have to think about again.
This is your go-to gate for pasture cross-fencing, barn lots, and property entrances. It’s more than strong enough for cattle and horses in low-to-medium pressure environments. It’s the dependable workhorse you can trust to do its job day in and day out without any fuss.
Priefert Premier Gate: For High-Pressure Pens
Secure your livestock with this durable Priefert pasture gate. Its solid metal construction and flat, laser-cut design seamlessly connect to Little Buster panels.
When you’re working animals in a confined space like a corral, sorting alley, or loading area, the pressure on your equipment multiplies. This is where a standard gate can fail. The Priefert Premier Gate is engineered specifically for these high-stress, high-pressure situations.
Its signature feature is the "Quadraform" tubing. Instead of being perfectly round, the steel is shaped to maximize its strength-to-weight ratio, making it incredibly resistant to bending and bowing when a few hundred pounds of impatient livestock push against it. This isn’t just a marketing gimmick; it’s smart engineering that makes a real-world difference.
These gates often come with a pistol-grip slam latch that can be operated with one hand, which is invaluable when you’re moving animals by yourself. A Priefert gate is an investment, but it’s one that pays for itself by preventing costly escapes and making your livestock handling safer and more efficient.
Behlen Wire-Filled Gate: Keeps Small Stock Safe
Goats are escape artists, lambs can squeeze through impossibly small gaps, and calves can get their heads stuck where they don’t belong. For small livestock, a standard tube gate is an open invitation for trouble. A wire-filled gate is the solution.
Behlen makes an excellent version that combines a heavy-duty tube frame with a 4-gauge wire mesh panel. The 2-inch by 4-inch grid is too small for even the most determined goat to push its head through, preventing injuries and escapes. It also provides an extra layer of security against predators.
The tradeoff is that these gates are heavier than tube gates and can act like a sail in high winds if not latched securely. But for kidding pens, lambing pastures, or any enclosure holding smaller animals, the peace of mind is worth the extra weight. This design eliminates the most common containment failures for small stock.
CountyLine Tube Gate: A Reliable, Budget-Friendly Pick
Not every fenceline requires a fortress. For long stretches of interior pasture fence or low-traffic areas where your animals are calm and respectful of boundaries, a budget-friendly option is often all you need. The CountyLine gates found at Tractor Supply are a solid choice for this role.
Let’s be clear: you’re not getting the same heavy-gauge steel or perfect welds as a premium gate. These are typically made from lighter 19 or 20-gauge tubing. But for dividing a large pasture or closing off a lane that only sees occasional use, they perform perfectly well.
The key is matching the gate to the job. Using a lighter gate in a high-pressure corral is asking for trouble. But using an expensive, heavy-duty gate on a back pasture fence is overkill. A good budget gate is a smart way to allocate your resources where they’re needed most.
Sioux Steel Bow Gate: The Ideal Walk-Through Solution
Build a durable, sag-free gate with the Adjust-A-Gate steel frame kit. It easily adjusts to fit 36-60 inch openings up to 7 feet high and includes a truss cable system for lasting stability.
In high-traffic areas like barn entrances or main corrals, constantly opening and closing a 12-foot gate to slip through is a chore. A bow gate is a brilliant solution that combines a sturdy panel with a convenient walk-through door.
The design features a large, arched steel tube—the "bow"—that runs over the top, providing incredible structural rigidity to the entire frame. Set within this frame is a smaller, 4-foot gate that’s easy to open and close for human access. This allows you to enter an enclosure to check feed or water without letting the entire herd out.
This isn’t just about convenience; it’s also a safety feature. It minimizes the risk of animals rushing out an open gate and reduces the wear and tear on your main gate hardware. For any spot you pass through multiple times a day, a bow gate is a quality-of-life upgrade you won’t regret.
Priefert Bull Gate: Unmatched Heavy-Duty Security
A standard gate is a suggestion to a determined bull. When you are containing an animal with that much power, weight, and hormonal drive, you need a gate built for absolute containment. There is no room for compromise.
The Priefert Bull Gate is an entirely different class of equipment. It’s constructed from massive, 2-inch diameter, heavy-gauge steel tubing and features numerous vertical stays for maximum reinforcement. Everything about it, from the hinges to the latch, is overbuilt with one purpose in mind: to not fail.
This gate is an expensive, heavy piece of steel, and it’s worth every penny. Think of it as an insurance policy. The cost of this gate is a tiny fraction of the potential liability if a bull gets out onto a road or into your neighbor’s herd of heifers. For containing bulls or other powerful livestock, this level of security is non-negotiable.
Choosing Your Gate Hardware and Proper Installation
The world’s strongest gate is useless if it’s hung on a wobbly post with flimsy hinges. Your installation and hardware are just as critical as the gate itself. A poorly hung gate is a constant frustration and a potential point of failure.
Start with the posts. Your hinge post, in particular, needs to be rock solid. Use a substantial wood post or steel pipe set at least 3 to 4 feet deep, preferably with concrete for maximum stability. This post will bear the entire weight and leverage of the gate over thousands of swings.
Use heavy-duty hardware. For wood posts, use 12-inch or longer screw-in hinges. For steel posts, use weld-on hinges. A simple chain and snap works for most latches, but for corrals or pens, a dedicated steel latch that prevents the gate from being lifted off its hinges is a safer bet. Take the time to hang the gate perfectly level. It will swing smoothly and last for decades.
Ultimately, the best gate is the one that’s right for the specific job. By looking past the paint and focusing on steel gauge, weld quality, and design, you can choose a gate that fits the pressure level and type of livestock you’re managing. It’s a simple investment that pays you back every single day in security, safety, and the quiet satisfaction of a job done right.
