The ultimate progenitor of the cattle guard is the flat stone stile of Cornwall, England, where grids of granite bars placed over pits in public footpaths have been in existence for more than 2,000 years. Today, cattle guards are found in all fifty states and on every continent.

Who created cattle guard?

In 1913, an inventor named William J. Hickey recognized the potential uses for a cattle guard, with cars taking over America, and filed a patent for his invention, which was specifically developed for use in roadways. Two years later, the United States Patent and Trade Office approved the patent.

Why do cows not cross cattle guards?

The way a cattle guard works is this: there are metal pipes that are laid in a strategic formation over a deep ditch. ... If they try to cross the cattle guard, their legs will fall down in between the pipes and they will get stuck. The cattle know this. So they generally don't try to cross cattle guards.