By Kaitlyn McMurphy, PAg, Agri-Environmental Specialist, Yorkton
For many years, barbed wire fencing was considered the standard to contain all types of livestock. While barbed wire fencing is an affordable option, it is time consuming to put up and it may injure livestock due to the sharp barbs.
Alternatively, electric fencing has advantages that make it a popular choice, as it’s cost-effective and beneficial to rotational grazing systems. It can be quickly assembled and, in some cases, easily disassembled or moved. Electric fencing can also be more resilient to damage from trees or wildlife.
It’s important if your livestock haven’t been exposed to electric fences that they are trained to recognize the new material. Before constructing a fence, a good way to make sure your animals are used to the new fence is to put a strand of electric wire through their existing pen, so they can explore and become familiar with it.
This will teach your animals that the electrified wire will shock them and encourage them not to put pressure on the wire.
To operate an electric fence on farm, there are a few additional elements required compared to a non-powered, traditional model of fencing.
Electric fences draw power from solar, battery or traditional AC plug-in power. To decrease the risk of the electric current flowing into the ground and breaking the circuit, a grounding rod is needed. Another element specific to electric fencing is an insulator, which is needed to prevent the wiring from shorting out and losing its current.
Additionally, typical fencing equipment like fenceposts and wire are needed to set up an electric fence.
There are several different types of electric fencing, and each one has its own benefits for producers and their operations.
- High tensile wire is made of steel and is the most commonly seen type of electric fencing in pastures and on farms. Its longevity makes it ideal for use as livestock fencing, and it can be used around a pasture’s perimeter or for crossfencing in controlled grazing systems.
- Poly wire and poly tape are a lightweight and highly portable option often used for shorter distances. This wire type is very quick to set up and takedown, and it is ideal for multiple types of fencing setups.
- Aircraft or stranded steel cables are an extremely secure and highly visible electric fencing type. This fence type has strong conductivity and is ideal for winter grazing systems like corn, swath or bale grazing.
- Virtual fencing systems require each cow to wear a GPS or cellular collar that receives signals indicating where the virtual boundaries are set.
The collars provide an audible cue to cattle approaching the boundary. If the animal reaches the boundary, they receive a mild shock. With the use of satellite imagery, the boundaries can be set from a computer or a smartphone. As with electrical wire fences, the use of virtual fencing requires livestock to be trained. Start by overlaying the virtual boundary on an existing physical boundary such as a fence. Slowly move the virtual “fence” away from the physical fence teaching the animals that, when they hear the audible cue, they are approaching the virtual boundary.
This technology allows producers to frequently move virtual boundaries to manipulate the cattle’s movement and ensure optimal usage of grazing areas. This technology also provides information on cattle movements and may be used to identify sick, injured or missing animals. With virtual fencing, a perimeter fence is required, but the possibilities for locations and movements of boundaries are limitless, unlike traditional fencing.
In some areas, producers require wildlifefriendly fencing – which includes height and visibility recommendations – to decrease the risk of wildlife like birds, deer and pronghorn getting tangled in wiring.
For more information on wildlife-friendly fencing and detailed information on installing these types of fences, download the Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Friendly Fences.
Electric fencing offers producers a costeffective, easily assembled and resilient alternative to traditional fencing methods. Its effectiveness depends on a reliable power source, proper grounding and the use of appropriate equipment.
For questions about fencing or for more information on the different types of electric fencing, contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.