The Fencing Needs of Livestock

updated 4/13/2023

There is well known saying, “Good Fences make Good Neighbors.” This is especially true for livestock owners. But what makes a good fence and what makes a bad fence? What type of fence should your farm have? Every farm or homestead has different needs, and each type of animal has different fencing needs. What works well for a horse may not work for a sheep. Be warned that goats, especially, need good fences.

If you don’t have good fencing, chaos can ensue. Pure chaos. Think about having cows, goats, and horses hanging out on your back patio.

Horses

Horses are generally the easiest homestead animal to contain unless you own a fence jumper. They are usually content to stay behind the worst of fences. Horses do like to hurt themselves though, and this propensity to accidental self-harm needs to be a prime consideration. The only horse that has special fencing requirements are mustangs. When you adopt a mustang, you must have a 6’ tall fence for adult mustangs (4 1/2’ for burros) and the fence must not be electric.

This is an example of old field fencing in poor condition. The fence is only 3’ tall and is topped with a single strand of barbed wire. The only animal this fence has worked for is horses. Old fences like this will also not stop coyotes.

Post and rail fencing is the most iconic of all horse fences. Unless post-and-rail also has electric or cattle panel then it is not appropriate for other small homestead animals who can escape under the lowest rail or between rails. Field fencing, electric, and cattle panel also work for horses. Be aware that horses who paw on a cattle panel fence may be prone to getting their hooves stuck in the cattle panel squares. This has not been a problem at Mossygoat Farm, but the possibility must be considered. No Climb is a type of high tensile field fence designed so that horses cannot get their hooves through. No Climb is a more expensive option but suitable for all livestock and chickens.

The electric fence needs of horses are minimal, and most fence chargers should be sufficient. Most horses can successfully be kept with a charger with only half a joule of stored energy per mile. Fence chargers usually list two numbers. The first number is the number of miles the charger will keep cover. Remember, when talking about the distance for a fence, it is the total number of miles of fencing used and not the distance the fence runs. If you run 5-strand electric, then you need to multiply the distance of the fence by five. Fence chargers also list the output in joules. The higher number of joules indicates a higher voltage output.

Is it okay to use barbed wire with horses? No, and yes. Barbed wire can severely injure horses and should be avoided. It should never be used in a confined area. What do you do if you buy a property with barbed wire? While it is not best, it is okay to leave the barbed wire in a large field until you can afford to put up a better fence. Mossygoat Farm still has a few stretches with barbed wire and no horse has ever harmed themselves, even the accident-prone ones.

Goats

Goats are notoriously the hardest homestead animal to keep behind a fence. They are smart, mischievous, and don’t mind being shocked. They will show you the weakest part of your fences. They are also excellent jumpers.

Electric 5-strand cross fencing that includes 4 grounding rods and a grounding wire with an 8-joule fence charger. This is an example of a fence suitable for all homestead animals, including goats. This fence also works well at keeping large predators such as coyotes and cougars out.

When you are choosing an electric fence for goats, do not focus on the miles of fence but focus on the joules. Goats need an absolute minimum of 8 joules, or 5,000 volts. If you are only fencing 1/4 of an acre and the fence charger says “8 joules, 100 miles” then it still is the fence charger for you.

Larger goats do well with cattle panel fencing although small kids can sometimes slip through the squares. Field fencing also works well for goats, especially when combined with an electric strand or two. Some goats are excellent jumpers, and these goats will need a top strand of electric to help discourage them.

Cattle

The fencing needs of cattle somewhat depends on the breed and temperament. Brahmas may be able to be contained with a single wire 2’ off the ground because they can’t be bothered to step over the wire. Angus bulls, however, need much more fence. Dairy cattle breeds are generally easier to fence than beef cattle. Cows can actually be pretty hard on fences.

On the range, most cattle are contained with barbed wire. Electric fences on the range are not practical due to the length of the fence and grounding issues with dry soil. Barbed wire is not really suitable for most farms or homesteads unless they only run cattle and are located in a dry scrub area. Barbed wire is inexpensive, but it is dangerous for horses and small livestock.

Most cattle do well with electric and unless you own small livestock you can get away with 2 or 3 strands. Cattle generally need 1 joule or greater per mile of fence. Cattle are larger animals and require taller fences, generally about 4’. Cattle panel and field fencing are also suitable for cattle although field fencing should have a top strand of electric to discourage jumping and pushing against the fence. Cattle are strong and they will push against a fence if they think the grass is greener on the other side. Cattle can, and will, push a field fence down if it is old or not installed properly.

Cattle panel fencing is much stronger than field fencing and is generally recommended for cattle over field fencing. Cattle can push against field fencing and stretch or ruin the fence if there is not electricity or barbed wire run with the field fencing. Cattle panel fencing is designed for…cattle. You can occasionally find cattle panel fencing with a smaller distance at the bottom between wires. Most panel fencing sold this way is actually hog panel, which is much shorter than cattle panel. In my area it is rare to find new cattle panel with narrow spacing.

This is an excellent example of sturdy cattle panel fencing. The support is strong in between panels and there is a single strand of barbed wire. The total height of this fence is 5’ and is sturdy enough for bulls. This fence was likely installed in the 1980’s and has withstood the test of time.

Sheep

Sheep are generally a pretty easy animal to contain. Sheep do not jump and do not require tall fences. A three-foot fence should be plenty tall for a sheep, especially when combined with an electric strand on top. Sheep do well with field fencing as well if the field fence is installed properly and is nice and tight. Sheep can push against a field fence and go under if the fence is loose. A single strand of electric at nose height generally prevents this. Young lambs can escape out of the holes in cattle panel fencing.

Kids and lambs can possibly escape out the large holes in cattle panel fencing.

Sheared sheep do well with electric fences. Even though wool technically conducts electricity, it still provides a sheep with a lot of insulation. They can take advantage of large spaces between wires or low voltage. Generally, it is recommended that a charger have a minimum of 3 joules per mile or higher.

Sheep attract predators. When choosing a fence for sheep you need to take into consideration the predators. Rather than choosing an electric fence strength for sheep, you may want to choose an electric fence that will keep out cougars, coyotes, and other predators. If predators are a problem, choose an 8 or 10 joule fence per mile of fencing.

Livestock Guardian Dogs

Livestock Guardian Dogs, or LGDs, have their own fencing needs. For example, a Great Pyrenees can climb fences and can jump 5’. A dog needs to be trained to electric fence before you rely on the fence to keep the dog in boundaries.

This gate had to be fortified to prevent livestock guardian dogs from escaping. The dogs both climbed the wires and jumped through the large hole protected by white wire. This is also an example of homestead ingenuity because the white metal grates are reused pieces of rabbit cage.

If you are wondering if a Great Pyrenees is the right choice for your homestead you can read about them here. In that article I also cover why they are called Great Disappearanees.

What fence is best for you?

Fencing is not as simple as putting in a fence and keeping all your livestock magically inside and the predators out. Fencing needs can also change over time. A farm that currently has sheep may choose to have cattle in the future. Perimeter fences need to be stronger than cross fencing. Predators also need to be taken into consideration, especially with sheep and chickens.

What fence is best for your homestead depends on many factors. Budget is always a factor. Consider fencing to be a major investment and not something to be done as cheaply as possible. If you run a homestead business, fencing is deductible on your taxes. You can either take a section 179 deduction or depreciate the cost over several years.

Terrain, vegetation, and climate also play a role in what is the most appropriate fence type for your homestead.

The vegetation under electric fences will need to be cut or removed. Animals will not graze by an electric fence.

Electric fences can be a lesser expensive option to install but they must be installed properly and have grounding. Dry soil can lead to grounding problems. It is not unheard of to water grounding poles in the summer in dry climates. Wet vegetation against electric fencing is also a factor. Animals will not graze near an electric fence so vegetation will need to be cut back. At Mossygoat Farm we run 5-strand electric that has 4 grounding rods. The grounding rods are located near a year-round pond and are always wet. The 2nd wire up on this fence is also a grounding wire.

For an electric fence to work, it must be installed properly. Likely you have heard horror stories of electric fences failing. Usually this is due to grounding issues. Gallagher brand has a free installation guide that can be found at retailers who sell Gallagher fencing. Even if you choose not to buy a Gallagher brand charger, this guide is a wealth of information needed to properly install an electric fence.

If you have an electric fence charger that is not working properly, be sure to check out Fencer Fixer. This is not a paid advertisement but rather a shout out to an excellent small business to work with.

Although electric is often a great choice, gates must be considered. This is an example of electric fencing in a tight space with a lot of movement of people and animals. A fortified pallet is used to protect animals and people while using the gate.

Field fencing works for most homestead animals but requires excellent corner bracing and is slightly more expensive to install than electric. Field fencing sometimes needs to be fortified with electric because livestock can push against it. Field fencing can stretch and develop holes over time. Despite the problems, it often is an excellent choice, especially those who live in an area where electric is not possible.

There are many different qualities of field fence. Buy the highest quality and sturdiest field fence you can afford. Fencing is not an area to try to save money. Field fencing that is inexpensive is cheaper but often does not last as long, is easier to stretch, has large spaces in between wires, or is flimsy and can be climbed.

Cattle panel is a more expensive option, but it is long lasting and sturdy. As the name implies, it is excellent for cattle. Horses do well with cattle panel as well. Baby lambs and kids as well as chickens can escape out of the holes in cattle panel fencing although some cattle panel has a smaller distance between wires at the bottom. Hog panel should not be confused with cattle panel. Hog panel is very similar but is much shorter in height and is not suitable for cattle or horses.

Hopefully you now have a better understanding of the different types of fencing that can be installed on a homestead and the fencing needs of various livestock. In reality, you may not install just one type of fence. At Mossygoat Farm we have cattle panel, field fencing, electric, corral panel, and barbed wire used in different combinations around the property. If you have any more fencing questions, please email us. We are always happy to help.