Fence Advice

[HDRider]

I have a question. Your advice is appreciated...

Q - Goat Woven Wire or 6 Strand 12.5 gauge HT??
WW - Cost = ~$24K
HT - Cost = ~$11K
for materials only...

On the HT I would need to clear woods and old very over grown fence rows. That would cost about $20K

With the woven wire I would chop down some trees and put the fence butted up to old very over grown fence rows. Minimal cost for this.

It is a 150 acres with 5 large paddocks.

BTW - I will subdivide the 5 paddocks to practice MIG with goats and beef cattle.

Summary HT for ~$31K or Woven Wire for $24K

[Clovers_Clan]

Many swear by the HT but if you have a goat that can get through it, its useless. If it were my 150 acres, the perimeter would be woven wire with 1 strand of HT to keep all critters from rubbing. I'd stick with electric portable cross fencing. If the power fails or a critter slips out of the cross fencing, its no big deal. But if you have animals getting out of your perimeter, or predators getting in, thats a problem.

[wolffeathers]

I'm assuming HT is high tensile wire.

I would do the welded wire. It provides a more solid barrier against dogs and wildlife. I would do a strand or two of hotwire to keep the livestock off the WW fence. I've seen dogs run right through a high tensile fence to chase angus cows, didn't slow that dog for a second. I've watched a coyote slip right through my high tensile fence into my pasture.

The portions of my pasture that have welded wire with a strand or two of hotwire are by far my most secure. It stops those awkward "escapes" made by babies(calves or kids) that hit the high tensile and spook through the fence vs backing away. It also does a much better job of keeping domestic dogs out.

To save cost, I would at least do the perimeter in the welded wire. (high tensile in the forest can be a big pain trying to keep the brush and vines off). With our new farm, we are looking at the 2x4 welded wire and a couple strands of hot wire for a perimeter and then electronetting for pasture rotation.

[V-NH]

I hope you're intending to make a lot of money off this venture. Otherwise, I recommend doing neither.

[AuntKitty]

Is this the high tensile woven field fence that everyone is saying goats can stretch out? I'm about to put it up this weekend.

Thanks!

Kitty

[krische1012]

We have a new farm we are planning to fence this summer and will be using high tensile woven wire. From everything we've heard the smooth high tensile is just not effective at keeping things in or out.

[SeaGoat]

I have both ww and eclectic

I can't drag them near the eclectic fence. They will literally drop to their sides before they'll get near it.

They always find a way out of welded wire alone.
I've had to put a strand of electric above and at the bottom of it.

I've notice there are wild animals that sometimes tango with the electric wire. I'll have to go out and unwrap it sometimes.


So if I'm doing that much fencing id do ww with the 2 strands above and at the bottom

[Clovers_Clan]

Originally Posted by krische1012

We have a new farm we are planning to fence this summer and will be using high tensile woven wire. From everything we've heard the smooth high tensile is just not effective at keeping things in or out.

If you are comparing traditional WW to HT woven wire, we've used both types here. The HT is super light and somewhat easier to stretch taught. However, it does not bend easily, so wrapping it around the posts is a real job. It seems to hold up well and post spacing can be spread out further than the traditional.

As far as keeping critters in or out, its no different than traditional WW, if its installed properly. It makes sense though, if you space posts further there is the possibility an animal can get their nose under and manage to pull themselves through.

If you are referring to HT electric. Its only as good as your charger, well trained animals, good grounding and close spacing. IMO just not 100% effective. But great for cross fencing or larger animals.

[Awnry Abe]

I've replaced decades-old barbed wire with woven wire and love the stuff. No goat escapes or stuck heads whatsoever. I prefer it as a perimeter for when I wean calves and/or pull the bull from the herd for the spring months.

I've done two major tracts, so far. The first replaced a fence that was a fence in spirit only. For it, I hired a bulldozer to clear one side of tree line. (16 hrs @ $85). It's a pretty sweet fence, with all new tube gates. The meat goats live and stay within it.

The second was a slightly smaller pasture up by our house and barn for the dairy goats. For it, I elected to just clean up the fence line and keep most if the trees. I butted the fence up against the old line as you stated. Works great.

Btw, if you have horned goats, I would recommend a woven wire whose horizontal stays are narrow at the bottom and gradually increase toward the top.

[HDRider]

Originally Posted by Awnry Abe

I've replaced decades-old barbed wire with woven wire and love the stuff. No goat escapes or stuck heads whatsoever. I prefer it as a perimeter for when I wean calves and/or pull the bull from the herd for the spring months.

I've done two major tracts, so far. The first replaced a fence that was a fence in spirit only. For it, I hired a bulldozer to clear one side of tree line. (16 hrs @ $85). It's a pretty sweet fence, with all new tube gates. The meat goats live and stay within it.

The second was a slightly smaller pasture up by our house and barn for the dairy goats. For it, I elected to just clean up the fence line and keep most if the trees. I butted the fence up against the old line as you stated. Works great.

Btw, if you have horned goats, I would recommend a woven wire whose horizontal stays are narrow at the bottom and gradually increase toward the top.

This is what I used around two ponds I plan to use has holding pens for goats. It is also what I am considering for my perimeter fence.

Thanks for the input....



http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/stor...48-in-x-330-ft

[jcfromgnatflats]

In a previous attempt at goat ranching I gave it up because I could not keep goats from climbing the fence and getting out. So now I'm going to try it again with a small experiment. I'm going to use chain link fence posts. Not the fence, just the posts. I will attach the WW to those posts. And, I am going to put those arms on top that hold barbed wire supposedly to keep burglars out. But I am going to turn them toward the inside, pasture side, and run either barbed wire or electrified HT there. If they escape from this I'm just going to hire a taxidermist and raise stuffed goats!