Fencing

Fencing is one of the most important aspects of raising sheep and goats. It usually represents a major capital investment. Not only must sheep and goat fencing contain the animals, but it must keep predators out. There are many fencing options. On this page, links are arranged alphabetically according to subject category: electric fence, fence construction, fence chargers, fencing costs, fence posts, general references, high-tensile fencing, predator control, rotational grazing, and temporary fencing. Fencing vendors can be found on the Product and Services page.

Electric fence

17 mistakes to avoid with electric fencing
The ABCs of electric fencing - LPES Small Farm Fact Sheets
All about grounding - FiShock™
Electric fence designs - British Columbia, Canada
Electric fence design: understand how it works - Sureguard
Electric fencing - KZN Agriculture, SA
[PDF] Electric fencing for sheep - Iowa St. Univ.
Electric fencing tips - pasturemanagement.com
Everything you need to know about electric fencing - Manitoba, Canada
Fencing management: electric fencing - Ontario, Canada
Frequently asked questions about electric fencing - Gallagher
[PDF] Grounding electric fences - Univ. Wisconsin
[PDF] Grounding electric fences - UC Davis
[PDF] Grounding systems for electric fences - British Columbia, Canada
[PDF] Introduction to electric fencing - British Columbia, Canada
[PDF] Keeping the current flowing - Univ. Wisconsin
Make a well-grounded (earthed) fence
Stafix Electric Fence Manual
Trouble-shooting problems with electric fences - GoatConnection

Fence construction

Constructing wire fences - Univ. Missouri
[PDF] Fence -barbed wire - NRCS
Intall an electric fence - Tractor Supply Co.
[PDF] New fence construction - British Columbia, Canada
[PDF] Page Wire Fencing - Canadian Plan Service
[PDF] Planning and building fences for the farm - Univ. Tennesssee
Selecting wire fencing materials - Univ. Missouri
[PDF] SpeedRite Fencing Manual
[PDF] Wire fence construction - British Columbia, Canada

Fence chargers

All about fence chargers - FiShock™
[PDF] Electric fence chargers - Beef Cattle Handbook
[PDF] Electric fence controllers - British Columbia, Canada
Electric Fence - Volts, Joules and Deep Cycle Batteries
[PDF] Energizers - Univ. Wisconsin
[PDF] Protecting an energizer from lightening - Univ. Wisconsin
Selection Chart for Electric Fence Energizers
Selecting energizers - Agrisellex Electric Fencing
Tips for buying and using a solar fence charger

Fencing costs

Estimating costs for livestock fencing - Iowa State | PDF
Estimating fencing costs - livestkfencing.com
[PDF] Fence material and construction cost survey in Kansas
Fencing - Colorado State Univ.
Fencing costs - Saskatchewon, Canada
Interactive fencing cost calculator - Univ. Kentucky
[PDF] Permanent fencing costs for cattle and sheep - Univ. Minnesota
Virginia Tech Fence Budgets

Fence posts

All about fence posts - FiShock™
[PDF] Line posts - Univ. Wisconsin
[PDF] Post selection - Univ. Wisconsin
[PDF] Setting posts - Univ. Wisconsin

General references

Boergoats.com Article Fencing
Farm fencing systems - Ontario, Canada
Fencing and watering livestock - Univ. Nebraska
[PDF] Fences for the farm - Univ. Georgia
Fencing - GoatConnection
[PDF] Fencing in Alberta
Fencing management: regulations, predators, and maintenance
Fences and Livestock Water for Pastures under Center Pivot Irrigation
Fencing materials for livestock systems - VA Tech | PDF
Fencing: Sheep 201
Fencing system (online course) - Univ. Maine
[PDF] Fencing system (online course) - Univ. Minnesota
[PDF] Fencing systems for rotational grazing - Univ. Wisconsin
Goat fencing - Fias Co Farm
Goat fencing - NSW, Australia | PDF
Livestock Fencing
[PDF] Livestock Fencing Considerations - Acreage Living, Iowa State
Points to note on fencing - Cashmere Growers, Aust.
Purdue Fencing Information
Sheep fencing: what are the options? - Ranching-with-sheep
Types of fencing for goats - Langston Univ.

High-tensile fence

[PDF] Building a high-tensile fence
Constructing high tensile wire fences - VA Tech | PDF
[PDF] High tensile fence: do's and don'ts
[PDF] Using high tensile wire - Univ. Wisconsin
Why build high-tensile fences? - Kencove

Predator control

[PDF] An evaluation of anti-coyote electric fences - Digital Commons
Building an electric anti-predator fence - Oregon St. | PDF
[PDF] Electric fences for reducing sheep losses - APHIS
[PDF] Electric fencing for blackbears - Virginia
Fencing options for predator control - Ontario, Canada
Protecting livestock from predation with electric fences | PDF
[PDF] Requirements for predator control fencing... Sask. Can.

Rotational grazing

Paddock design, fencing, and watering systems - ATTRA | PDF
Planning fencing systems for controlled grazing - VA Tech | PDF
Planning fencing systems for intensive grazing management | PDF

Temporary fencing

Goat vegetation fencing - eXtension
[PDF] Portable electric fence materials - Beef Cattle Handbook
[PDF] Temporary electric fence materials evaluation
[PDF] Temporary fencing for rotational grazing - Univ. Tennessee

The Maryland Small Ruminant Page [sheepandgoat.com] was created in 1998 as an information portal for sheep and goat producers and anyone else interested in sheep and goat production and marketing. The web site includes original documents and images as well as a comprehensive list of links pertaining to small ruminants and related topics. The web site was developed and is maintained by Susan Schoenian, Sheep & Goat Specialist at the University of Maryland's Western Maryland Research & Education Center. Susan has been with University of Maryland Extension since 1988. She holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Animal Science from Virginia Tech and Montana State University, respectively, and also attended The Ohio State University. Susan conducts the Western Maryland Pasture-Based Meat Goat Performance Test at her research facility in Keedysville. She raises Katahdin sheep on her small farm called The Baalands in Clear Spring, Maryland. Please direct all questions, comments, or suggestions to Susan at sschoen@umd.edu.

Disclaimer: The links contained on the Maryland Small Ruminant Page [sheepandgoat.com] and its affiliated pages are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of any person, organization, business, or product. The author disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. Users of this web site and all external links are encouraged to use common sense and sound judgement when evaluating information. Always consider the source, bias, timeliness, and logic of the web site, as well as author's expertise and bias, when evaluating information from the web.

Last updated 16-Mar-2010 by Susan Schoenian.