If you don't understand why ranches have fence, then you don't understand ranching at all. In Texas, ranches raise cattle. Even if you don't, then your neighbor most probably does. Your property will be fenced off from your neighbor, either to contain your cattle, his cattle, or in most cases, both. Every piece of property here has at one point or another had cattle on it, and had to be fenced. You don't tear it down just because they are gone,fencing is a substantial investment and you just may need it again sometime. We have very little public land, it is in private ownership, and must pay for itself making a living somehow. Down in that part of the state rainfall is low, the land is not much good for farming without irrigation, so people raise cattle. It's that simple. They must be kept on their owners property.