Top tips for electric farm fencing

By Joe Gallenti, owner of Farmer’s Mailbox. Farmers have been using electric fencing for over seventy years to protect livestock and ensure the successful operation of their property. Rather than being a physical barrier, it’s a psychological barrier that trains most animals to avoid the fence.

In the short term erecting an electric fence may appear more complex and expensive than barbed or woven wire. However, it’s not long before it will save you significant time, effort and money in maintenance and repair.

It may appear more complex than standard fencing. But if you follow some basic straightforward principles you’ll have your new electric fence up in practically no time.

Where to start

Plan your fence carefully. There are a number of things to consider before you start erecting your fence. What type of animals do you need to fence in or out? The terrain and climate it needs to operate in. Will your fence be temporary or permanent?

Type of animals

Electricity needs conductivity to deliver a shock. Thick, shaggy and heavy coats, such as sheep and goats, may act as an insulator, requiring a more powerful fence than for other animals.

How tall is the animal and how likely is it to jump over or dig under a fence? Peter Tidd, Southern Territory Manager for Thunderbird, comments, “Ideally you will want a wire placed at the level of the animal’s nose, where it can’t push its head between two wires without receiving a shock. Low and high wires may be necessary to prevent the animal from jumping over or digging under.

Permanent or temporary electric fencing

For temporary and movable fencing you should look at using solar or battery powered energisers. They allow for the fence to be easily moved and re-erected. Temporary fences typically run for short distances and use lightweight components such as poly step-in posts, fiberglass rods with poly wire, tape or rope.

Temporary electric fencing is very effective in the day-to-operation of a farm as its needs change from season to season. Peter Tidd advises, “Temporary electric fences are ideal for selectively grazing pastures, in that they can be moved in minutes. Strip grazing typically only uses 1 or 2 live wires and no earth wire. These wires can be tapped off an existing electric fence, or a small battery or solar powered energiser can be used to power the fence separately”.

A permanent boundary fence requires more robust materials such as high tensile steel wire anchored to wooden posts. Requiring minimal maintenance, a well constructed high tensile electric fence will protect your property for a number of decades.

Terrain and climate

Terrain with thick vegetation will require a more power than in relatively clear terrain. Dry frozen ground can limit the grounding ability of the fence, which impacts its ability to deliver a charge due to low fence voltage.

In very wet conditions wooden posts can absorb water causing little shorts. Proper grounding, with potential weather and terrain consideration being taken into account, will alleviate the vast majority of problems.

Don’t be too cheap

Cost is an important thing to consider when planning your fence. But basing your decisions based purely on price is likely to be false economy in the long run. Aside from cheap components and energisers breaking down frequently, your fence is likely to fail at performing its job.

If you have any questions please email me at: [email protected] or view our catalogue of electric fencing products.