2016 Premier Fence

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Before you buy or build a fence…
Some common key fence questions—
08 BEFORE YOU BUY OR BUILD
Q. Should you energize the fence?
A. Absolutely. Why?
• An electrified strand has a zone of
pain. Fewer strands are needed if
one is energized. Both material
and the labor to install is reduced.
• Energized fences last longer
and require less maintenance—
because animals do not crowd,
rub or scratch on them. So the
fence wires (including wires that
are not energized) require less
tension to do their job. And braces
and corner posts will last longer.
• Animals are more surely
contained or excluded during
breeding and weaning.
Q. Where will the fence be located?
A. The best design hinges on the following:
• Is the terrain flat?
• Will the fence go over hills, across
ditches, or around curves?
• Is fence line brushy or with trees?
• Are the soils rocky, very soft, sandy
or firm?
Q. How keen will animals be to breach
the fence line?
A. Build for the worst-case situation (if you
can afford to do so).
Some situations that require more
secure fences:
• Hunger. Starved animals will
eventually challenge most fences.
• Weaning. Strong physical barriers are
essential to success.
• Breeding. Libido induces all creatures
to challenge rules and fences.
• Boredom. Animals in corrals,
stalls and feedlots often crave any
entertainment or activity.
• Gateways and handling yards.
Animals often push each other into
fences when being moved.
• Goats. Without a doubt, they are
escape artists.
• Fear and fright. Predators or loud
noises can cause prey species (e.g.
horses, goats, turkeys) to run in terror
straight into, under, over or through
any fence, no matter what fence design
(netting, hi-tensile or woven wire).
Q. Do the animals know the fence?
A. Local animals and wildlife get to
know a fence by appearance, location
and pain memory. If it’s a strong or
painful fence, they avoid it.
On the other hand, new animals
just off a truck often charge into
permanent fences and straight
through temporary or semi-
permanent fences. That’s why strong,
tall, visible permanent fences are
essential for corrals and feedlots.
Temporary fences that are not
physically strong pose the greatest
risk of escape to newly acquired
animals. It pays to train them to it
inside of a permanent fence.
Q. What specific animals need to be
fenced in or out?
A. Always design and build for the most
difficult species. Rules of thumb:
• Most sheep and goat fences will stop
cattle and horses. The inverse is not
always true.
• Fencing adult males (bulls, rams,
stallions, billies) in/out during
breeding season requires taller
fences with closer wire/strand
spacing and more powerful electric
pulses (in joules, not volts).
• Fences for mixed sizes (ewes with
lambs, etc.) need more strands than
uniform groups.
• Certain breeds need better fences
(e.g. flighty Romanov sheep, tall
Columbia sheep, Chianina cattle).