1. Fencing Systems John Turner State Grassland Conservationist (Retired)
Natural Resources Conservation Service

2. How do I decide which to use?
Existing fences
Livestock to be controlled
Cost
Construction
Maintenance
Ease of construction
Intensity of rotation grazing
FLEXIBILITY

3. What is the right fence?
Any fence that keeps livestock where you want them.

4. What livestock are to be controlled?

5. What types are appropriate for grazing systems?
Physical Barrier
Woven Wire
Barbed Wire
Board or Pipe

6. What types are appropriate for grazing systems?
Psychological Barrier—effectiveness of the fence is in the mind of the cow
Electric or Power fence
Temporary
Permanent

7. Electric Fencing Cons Pros Bad experiences Most misunderstood
Long ago
Due to poor construction or maintenance
Most misunderstood
Least familiar
Pros
Least expensive
Durable
Easy to install (with right tools and skills)
Most Flexible—you can create an

8. Components
Charger
Fence
Ground

9. Charger or Energizer Low impedance Size - miles, joules, acres
minimum 5000 volt output
pulse < 300 mAmps seconds long
pulses per minute
Size - miles, joules, acres
Solar, battery or 110 volt
Surge protection
Lightning choke or induction coil

11. Permanent Power Fence Wire (permanent) 12 1/2 ga High Tensile (smooth)
Minimum 110,000 psi
(around 170,000 psi is good to work with)
Class III galvanizing or equivalent

12. Posts
Corner posts and Bracing - good corners (but not necessarily BIG corners)
Line posts
wood, steel, fiberglass, UV stabilized plastic
foot maximum spacing (if terrain permits)

13. Posts Corner posts and Bracing - good corners Line posts
wood, steel, fiberglass, UV stabilized plastic, composites
foot maximum spacing
PLEASE CONSIDER using non-conductive

14. Knee brace
effective for
1 & 2 wire
fences

15. Effective for 1 to 8 wire fences
Floating Angle Brace
Effective for 1 to 8 wire fences

17. Steel T-post floating angle brace
Effective on 1 to 2 wire
Steel Pipe, minimum 3” diameter,
driven as deep as amount of post above ground
Effective on 1 to 3 wires

18. Multi-strand Gate
5 Strand 12.5 gauge
High tensile fence
Composite Post
Floating Angle Brace

19. Insulators Plastic 10 year warranty Pinlock Porcelain UV stabilized
High quality HDPE or HDPP (black is better?)
10 year warranty
Pinlock
Porcelain
Gray - good
White seem to break
down sooner

20. Offset bracket on existing fence

21. Temporary Power Fence
Polywire / Polytape (temporary) - good conductors for less than ¼ mile
- add flexibility
- white holds up better & more visible
- at least 6 stainless steel wires

22. Temporary Fencing Products

26. Electric Netting

27. Ground
90 % of electric fence problems are from poor grounding system.

28. Ground Charger Grounding System
3 feet of 1/2” rod per joule (2.4 ft. of 5/8” rod is equal)
Spaced 10’ apart in moist area
Use galvanized ground rod, clamp, wire
Avoid mixing metals, such as copper and galvanized. Causes corrosion and poor conduction.
25 ft from utility ground or well casing
Keep ground rod ends, connecting wire and clamps above ground

30. Homemade Lightning Choke

31. Ground Lightning Arrestor Grounds 65 ft from charger ground
One rod more than charger
Want to “attract” the lightning to this point
Multiple arrestors per system with separate grounding

33. Electric Gates: Insulator used at hinge end Electrified through handle
Gate “dead” when opened
Small diameter cable makes excellent gate
Screen door spring at hinge end

34. Gate Handles and
assemblies

36. Switches
Switches &
Volt meters
Check
voltage
regularly

39. Electric Water Gap

41. Summary Look around - learn from others experience
Find a reputable dealer that knows their products and will stand behind them
Practice - get your feet wet (but don’t touch the fence with wet feet!)
Don’t cut corners