Ben, thanks for the replies - yes there can be calves next to it at times. I am also not looking forward to taking the lower wire off of a new fence...the neighbor making the suggestion has mostly large dairy cattle in his pastures.

I think I will hit it with RU + 2,4d next spring about 2 ft wide. Weeds are just too big now. It is not in an area where a fire break is usually a concern... although if we don't get some rain soon....

I am also going to run an electric wire inside the barb as suggested here a while ago....maybe after the farm show season. Watching the cattle I see various times when they push on the fence. The electric should just keep the big ones off of it. Leaving the bottom wire will keep the calves in. I'm learning.

Jim at Dawn