A permanent fence for cattle and horses will require a 4-wire barbed wire fence. Temporary or intermediate fence lines are usually 3-wired barbed wire. Woven wire will be requried for hogs, sheep, and goats, and boundary fences. Fence wires should always be placed on the side of the posts that livestock will usually be on. This will prevent staples being pushed out by livestock leaning against the fence.
Wood preservatives help guard against decay.
Pressure treatment is a commercial process which forces preservative into the wood under pressure. A preservative retention of six to nine pounds per cubic foot of wood is desirable for fence post treatment. Surface application of preservative to wooden posts is not recommended because wood will not absorb enough preservative to give effective protection from decay. Corner posts and gate posts should have a minimum top diameter of 8 inches. Posts used to brace corner posts or to provide added strength in lines of steel posts should have at least a 5-inch top diameter.