A cattle guard can save a lot of time at a ranch entrance or driveway because you can drive across it without stopping to open and close a gate. One alternative to buying a heavy steel cattle guard is making your own concrete cattle guard with a reusable form.

Barn World's reusable concrete cattle guard form is designed to be filled with concrete and reinforced with rebar. After the concrete cures, the finished cattle guard is removed from the form, and the form can be used again for another crossing.

This approach can make sense for ranchers, landowners, and contractors who need more than one livestock crossing or want to avoid shipping a large, heavy steel cattle guard. The finished concrete guard is also designed with a solid bottom between the openings rather than the open vault found beneath many traditional steel cattle guards.

See the reusable concrete cattle guard form for the current product specifications and installation information.

What Is a Concrete Cattle Guard?

A concrete cattle guard is a livestock barrier made by pouring concrete into a specially shaped form. The finished barrier has raised concrete beams with openings between them. Livestock generally avoid walking across the uneven surface, allowing vehicles to pass through a fence line without requiring a gate.

Instead of purchasing a finished concrete cattle guard, the reusable form allows you to make one on site. The form holds the concrete in the proper shape while it cures and includes locations for positioning the reinforcing steel.

The current Barn World form produces a finished cattle guard approximately 6 feet long by 21.5 inches wide. The form itself weighs about 75 pounds, while the finished concrete guard is substantially heavier.

Why Use a Reusable Cattle Guard Form?

The biggest difference between this approach and buying a finished steel cattle guard is that you are transporting the form rather than a finished steel grid.

A reusable form can also be used more than once. If a property has several fence crossings, you can pour another guard using the same form rather than purchasing and shipping another finished cattle guard for every location.

• Reusable: The form can be used for multiple concrete cattle guards.
• Made on site: Concrete is poured where the form is available rather than shipping the finished concrete barrier.
• Heavy finished barrier: A completed guard can weigh approximately 1,500 pounds.
• HS20 rated: The current product is listed as HS20 rated for 16 tons per axle.
• Reinforced: Each pour uses 1/2-inch rebar along with the concrete.

The form itself is lightweight compared with a completed concrete or steel cattle guard, but you still need the equipment and site conditions necessary to handle the finished concrete barrier.

Concrete Cattle Guard Specifications

Specification	Current Details
Form weight	Approximately 75 lb.
Finished dimensions	Approximately 6 ft. long × 21.5 in. wide
Concrete	12 bags of 80-lb., 4,000 PSI mix
Reinforcement	1/2-in. rebar
Finished guard weight	Approximately 1,500 lb.
Load rating	HS20, 16 tons per axle
Form	Reusable

These specifications are based on the current Barn World product information. Check the product page before beginning a project because installation requirements and product specifications can change.

What You Need to Make a Concrete Cattle Guard

The form is only one part of the project. Before starting a pour, have the concrete, reinforcing steel, release agent, and equipment needed to mix, place, and cure the concrete ready.

For each pour, the current specifications call for:

• One reusable cattle guard form
• 12 bags of 80-lb., 4,000 PSI concrete mix
• 1/2-inch rebar
• A non-petroleum release agent
• Equipment for mixing and placing the concrete
• A suitable lifting method for removing the cured guard from the form

The form has slots that help position the rebar before the concrete is poured.

Use the Right Release Agent

A release agent helps the cured concrete separate from the polyethylene form. This is an important step because forcing the form away from the concrete can damage the form or the finished guard.

Barn World recommends a non-petroleum release agent. Vegetable oil, cooking spray, or car wax are examples listed with the current product information. Avoid petroleum-based products that can react with the polyethylene form.

Apply the release agent to the surfaces that will contact the concrete before beginning the pour.

Step-by-Step: Making a Concrete Cattle Guard

1. Prepare the Form

Place the form on a level, stable surface where it can remain undisturbed while the concrete cures. Make sure there is enough room around it to work safely and to bring in the concrete and equipment needed for the pour.

2. Apply the Release Agent

Coat the inside surfaces of the form with an appropriate non-petroleum release agent. Cover the areas that will contact the concrete so the cured guard can be removed without damaging the form.

3. Install the Rebar

Place the 1/2-inch rebar into the holding slots provided in the form. The reinforcing steel becomes part of the finished concrete cattle guard.

4. Pour the Concrete

Fill the form with 12 bags of 80-lb., 4,000 PSI concrete mix. Work the concrete into all areas of the form and take care to avoid leaving large air pockets.

5. Allow the Concrete to Cure

The current instructions indicate that the concrete typically takes about four days to cure. Actual curing time can vary with temperature, moisture, concrete mix, and site conditions, so follow the requirements for the concrete being used.

6. Remove the Form

Once the concrete has cured sufficiently, use the lifting point and equipment appropriate for the weight of the finished guard. The form can then be separated from the concrete and prepared for another pour.

7. Move the Finished Guard Into Position

A finished concrete cattle guard can weigh around 1,500 pounds, so moving it requires appropriate lifting equipment. Plan this part of the project before the pour rather than trying to figure out how to move the finished guard afterward.

Concrete Cattle Guard Spacing

The spacing of the openings is an important part of the cattle guard design. The current form uses openings that are wider at the top and narrow toward the bottom, ending at a solid base.

This differs from a traditional steel cattle guard, where the area beneath the rails is open. With the concrete design, the narrowing openings and solid bottom are intended to limit how far a hoof can travel between the raised sections.

That design is one reason the concrete form may be worth considering for properties where hoof entrapment is a concern. However, no livestock barrier should be treated as risk-free, and animals should be considered when deciding where and how to install a crossing.

Where to Install a Concrete Cattle Guard

A concrete cattle guard is generally used where a driveway, ranch road, or other vehicle crossing passes through a livestock fence. The finished guard needs to be positioned so vehicles can cross while the surrounding fence remains effective at containing livestock.

Site preparation is important. The area should be stable and provide adequate drainage so water does not collect around or beneath the finished guard.

For a new crossing, consider:

• Where the existing fence will meet the cattle guard
• How vehicles will approach and cross the barrier
• Whether the ground is level and stable
• How water will drain away from the crossing
• How the finished concrete guard will be moved into position
• Whether local requirements apply to the road or crossing

Concrete Cattle Guards and Drainage

Good drainage is important for any cattle guard installation. Standing water can create muddy conditions around the crossing and can contribute to settling or other site problems.

A suitable gravel base or drainage arrangement may be appropriate depending on the soil, slope, and local conditions. The correct site preparation will vary from one property to another, so consider the drainage characteristics of the installation site before placing the guard.

For more information about cattle guard installation and drainage, see Barn World's cattle guard installation guide.

Concrete vs. Steel Cattle Guards

Concrete and steel cattle guards take different approaches to the same basic job. A steel cattle guard arrives as a finished product and can be installed over a properly prepared foundation. A concrete cattle guard made with a reusable form requires you to supply the concrete and reinforcement and complete the pour yourself.

Feature	Concrete Form	Steel Cattle Guard
Finished on site	Yes	No
Reusable form	Yes	No
Concrete required	Yes	No
Rebar required	Yes	No
Shipping finished barrier	No	Yes
Multiple crossings	Same form can be reused	Additional guards required

If you prefer a finished steel unit rather than making your own concrete guard, Barn World also carries steel cattle guards in several configurations and load ratings.

Is an HS20 Concrete Cattle Guard Right for Your Project?

The current reusable form is listed as HS20 rated at 16 tons per axle. That is a useful specification for projects where a particular load rating is required, but the rating of the finished guard does not eliminate the need for proper installation and site preparation.

If the crossing is on a public road or is subject to requirements from a local government agency, DOT, or other authority, confirm the applicable specifications before beginning construction. Load ratings, dimensions, foundations, and installation requirements can vary by project.

Concrete Cattle Guard Form vs. Leave-in-Place Forms

A reusable form is designed to be removed from the cured concrete so it can be used again. Barn World also offers other cattle guard form options, including forms designed for permanent installation.

If you need multiple cattle crossings, the reusable design can be particularly useful because the same form can be used for successive pours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much concrete does a concrete cattle guard form require?

The current Barn World reusable form requires 12 bags of 80-lb., 4,000 PSI concrete mix for each pour.

How much does a finished concrete cattle guard weigh?

The current product information lists the finished guard at approximately 1,500 pounds. Appropriate lifting equipment is needed to move it after curing.

Can the concrete cattle guard form be reused?

Yes. The form is specifically designed to be removed after the concrete cures and reused to make additional cattle guards.

What size is the finished concrete cattle guard?

The current reusable form produces a finished guard approximately 6 feet long by 21.5 inches wide.

What kind of rebar is required?

The current specifications call for 1/2-inch rebar. The rebar is not included with the form.

How long does the concrete need to cure?

The current instructions indicate approximately four days, although actual curing time depends on the concrete mix and weather conditions. Follow the curing requirements for the concrete used in your project.

Make Your Own Concrete Cattle Guard

A reusable concrete cattle guard form gives ranchers and property owners another option besides purchasing and shipping a finished steel cattle guard. You supply the concrete and rebar, complete the pour on site, allow it to cure, and then reuse the form for another crossing.

For a single crossing, a finished steel cattle guard may be the simpler choice. For properties with multiple fence crossings, the ability to reuse one form can make the concrete approach worth considering.

View the reusable concrete cattle guard form at Barn World for current specifications, instructions, and additional product information. If you are unsure which type of cattle guard or form fits your project, contact Barn World with your crossing dimensions and intended use.