Electric Fencing – General Considerations

ELECTRIC FENCING is now an accepted part of farming operations throughout the world. With the recent development of Solid-State Fence Energisers which offer high reliability and high power outputs, the practical applications of electric fencing have been greatly extended.

Using modern energisers, it is possible to construct fences that are highly effective in restraining stock, and at the same time use a minimum of time and materials in their construction.

As the fencing requirements of farms vary depending on the local conditions of soil type, rainfall, and vegetation, it is not possible to specify any one design of fence which will work in all situations.

In practice, the results you will achieve using an electric fence will depend upon your own ability to assess what is required in the light of experience. The aim of this Website is to introduce you to the possibilities of electric fencing and to provide you with the basic information to enable you to develop an effective electric fencing system to suit your needs.

HOW AN ELECTRIC FENCE WORKS

An ELECTRIC FENCE works by “educating” your animals so that they learn to associate touching the fence with receiving an unpleasant shock. This is the same principle as barbed wire, but it presents a much more powerful deterrent with very little danger of physical damage to your stock.

Electric fences are used successfully to control many kinds of animals, both domestic and feral.

The source of the shock is an electric fence energiser. The energiser provides regular pulses of electricity to your fence. These intermittent high voltage pulses flow from the energiser, along a connection cable to the fence, and then along the length of the fence. The “live” wires of your fence should not come into contact with fence posts or corner posts, and this is achieved by the use of suitable insulators.

When an animal comes into contact with the fence, it becomes part of an electrical circuit between the output terminals of your energiser. The strength of the shock the animal receives depends upon the power available from the energiser, and the total resistance of the circuit.

ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRIC FENCING

ELECTRIC FENCING offers you the following benefits:

1. LOW COST
   An electric fence can perform the same task as a conventional fence using much fewer materials.
   
   
2. EASY TO BUILD
   Lower wire strains and generally lighter materials, make it much quicker and easier to construct, especially in difficult terrain.
   
   
3. EXTENDED LIFE
   Electric fences are not subjected to the same physical pressure from animals, and can therefore be expected to have a greatly extended service life. The life of old fences can be extended considerably using electric fencing.
   
   
4. UNIVERSAL APPLICATION
   Electric fencing will contain all types of animals. Educated stock develop greater respect for electric fencing than for any other type of fence.
   
   
5. FLEXIBILITY
   There is no quicker or easier way to effectively subdivide a paddock for controlled grazing than with an electric fence.
   
   
6. LOW MAINTENANCE
   Once your fence is properly installed and your stock is trained, the maintenance requirements of electric fencing are a little different from conventional fences.
   
   
7. LESS STOCK DAMAGE
   The shock from your electric fence causes no physical damage. If your stock is forced through the fence e.g. by dogs, they are less at risk than with a conventional fence.