# Tell me about cattle guards. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 27, 2006, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378 "2006-08-27T02:14:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/21 "2006-08-27T15:28:33Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Assuming they can see it, or are smart (dumb?) enough to remember where it is in the dark. [/QUOTE] Cattle have excellent night vision. They move around and graze a lot at night. Cattle do not remember, or test, cattle guards. The guard simply looks like something they shouldn’t step on, so they don’t step on it. (see my post #3) When I’m working cattle in my barn, there are certain times of the early morning when the sun shines through the slatted lumber of the barn’s sides, making a striped pattern on the barn floor. The cattle won’t walk there. I have to either put a canvas over the wooden barn siding or wait until the sun gets high enough that the pattern on the floor goes away. Then they’ll walk. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/22 "2006-08-27T16:38:04Z")
THanks again. ---
**Author:** ![Omphaloskeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bcef8e/32.png) [@Omphaloskeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omphaloskeptic)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/23 "2006-08-27T18:17:04Z")
[QUOTE=carnivorousplant] Must I contemplate it in the dark, Sensi? [/QUOTE] Until you achieve enlightenment, all your contemplation must be in the dark, grasshopper. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/24 "2006-08-27T18:21:09Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] And what happens to small animals that encounter one? [/QUOTE] They fall in. Don’t worry too much if it’s a British critter, though. [Emergency Hedgehog Exit](http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/FAQS/ramps.htm) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/25 "2006-08-27T20:40:38Z")
[QUOTE=Omphaloskeptic] Until you achieve enlightenment, all your contemplation must be in the dark, grasshopper. [/QUOTE] Sensi is about to discover the sound of One Hand Clapping, Sensi is. ---
**Author:** ![jesusson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/45deac/32.png) [@jesusson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jesusson)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/26 "2006-08-27T21:44:04Z")
[QUOTE=bluezooky] It strange not to be connected to the fence, maybe their new but the general idea is to cattle are afraid to cross the grate, I suppose the fence is due to be installed. [/QUOTE] If the guard is not connected to the fence it is more than likely so the rancher can move the cattle through by bypassing the guard. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2006, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/27 "2006-08-27T22:00:18Z")
[QUOTE=jesusson] If the guard is not connected to the fence it is more than likely so the rancher can move the cattle through by bypassing the guard. [/QUOTE] In that case there would be a gate. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378/28 "2006-08-28T00:27:17Z")
Not that this link sheds much light, but it always amazes me that there is no conceivable subject on which [someone has not written a book](http://www.emporia.edu/english/hoy/cattleg.htm). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-cattle-guards/370378.md?page=1)