Livestock require a safe environment. To help protect your animals from predators and keep them safely within your land, investing in quality agricultural fencing is a smart move.
However, not all fencing is the same – there are a wide variety of supplies that accommodate specific livestock, poultry, and swine.
Types of Fencing
Fencing materials vary, so it’s best to figure out exactly what is needed for your livestock. Is it for predator safety? To keep livestock separate from each other? Boundary purposes? Let’s review the most common fencing materials and types.
Wooden Fences
A traditional way of farm fencing, wooden fences provide good strength and durability if constructed properly. A disadvantage of wooden fences is that they can be prone to rot and cracking. Care and maintenance with damaged wood is required so that it doesn’t spread across the whole structure.
Wire Fencing
Wire fencing is a budget friendly choice and comes in options like electrical wire, barbed wire, and woven wire fencing. Wire doesn’t work great for the smaller animals and can be harmful if not installed or handled properly. Barbed wire in particular can be harmful to livestock, causing injury and infections.
Electrical Fencing
Electric fencing is effective at keeping predators out of your operation. Like barbed wire, electric fencing delivers a deterrent to animals who attempt crossing it, but without the risk of actual injury as the shocks are not harmful beyond startling the animal. However, electrical fencing requires a higher level of routine maintenance and checks to make sure it’s operational.
Vinyl / PVC Fencing
PVC fencing is common for residential properties – it’s rot resistant and never needs to be repainted; but it won’t hold up to large livestock animals. While some farmers have had success filling PVC fencing and tubes with concrete, this is costly and time consuming.
Livestock Fencing Factors
When choosing the right fencing material for your livestock, there are factors to consider before investing in updates to your farm:
●Budget – Fencing costs can vary per type. It’s best to compare material prices and have exact measurements so that you better understand how much you’re spending. Take labor and installment prices into account when making your final decision. While some fencing may be more expensive than others, the durability and longevity of the fencing may save you money in the long run.
●Environmental Conditions – When choosing your farm fencing material, weather and location should be considered. Ask yourself the following questions: What type of ground does your farm sit on? What is the soil like? Do you experience extreme winters with heavy snowfall and scorching summers?
Taking weather conditions into account will help better decide your fencing material. For example, if your soil changes per season due to deterioration, a traditional wooden fence may fit your farm better than an electric fence.
Choosing the Right Fencing for Your Livestock
Farm fencing isn’t a one-size fits all solution, certain animals can escape certain fencing materials, so it’s best to use the most suitable material for your livestock.
●Fencing for Goats, Sheep, Smaller Animals – Goats are known to escape fencing materials like vinyl, so having wired fencing for goats and smaller animals is key to keeping them safe, and inside your farm.
●Fencing for Poultry – Wire fencing is excellent for your chickens. Make sure the dimensions are crafted high enough so that predators such as foxes cannot intrude the space. Our wire fencing products come in multiple options to suit your needs.
○Stainless steel birdwire – best suited for long term use and require minimal maintenance.
○Galvanized wire – great for seasonal use and excellent resistance to rust and corrosion.
○Bird netting – extremely durable and rust proof priced lower than traditional poultry wire.
○Black PVC welded wire – durable fencing product that can be used for more than poultry and smaller areas.
●Fencing for Swine – Keeping your hogs in safely in one place is best through woven wire fencing, or our recommendation, galvanized steel. Making sure that both options are securely constructed prevents your pigs from escaping through any gaps.
●Fencing for Cattle – Wooden fencing is a popular and traditional method for containing cattle, but we recommend cattle panels for a safer enclosure. Our galvanized livestock panels are built to withstand tough conditions with maximum protection. We offer a variety of panels:
Choosing Quality Fencing Materials
Quality fencing is important for many facets of livestock care and handling – from sorting to controlled grazing. Ensure your farm has the highest quality fencing available. Shop our inventory of livestock fencing materials and equipment to keep your animals safe and secure.
