Once upon a time, children were sent to the hills and fields with the family’s sheep to keep them safe and secure as they grazed. Nowadays children go to school and sheep herds are kept behind fences. Here is a look at two main types of fencing for keeping sheep safe and secure: perimeter fencing and interior fencing.
Perimeter Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
As the name suggestions, perimeter fencing outlines the entire width and length of your sheep grazing land. It is generally permanent and needs to be resistant enough to keep your flock safely inside and all predators out. It must also be strong enough to resist strong winds and other weather conditions. Other considerations include:
Height: a minimum of 4 feet is recommended for most predators; 6 feet is recommended for areas with bears
Extra predator deterrents like barbed wire
Mesh size: 4” x 4” (10 cm x 10 cm) is often used for sheep
Ease of installation and maintenance
Cost
The Best Perimeter Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
Woven wire, 1-barbed strand
Woven wire topped by a strand of barbed wire is a safe and effective perimeter fencing solution for sheep enclosures. They are resistant to pressure from animals, and the flat surface of the woven wire does not get caught in the sheep’s wool. When placed at 4 feet or at the bottom of a fence, the barbs pose little threat to your sheep.
Other Perimeter Fencing Solutions
Barbed Wire Fences
While a single strand appropriately placed will not hurt your sheep, a complete barbed wire fence can seriously harm and stress a sheep. However, if you are repurposing a barbed wire fence, it should contain at least 5 to 6 wires, but preferably 8 to 10, closely spaced wires with several vertical stays.
Rail Fencing
As a repurposed fence, wood or vinyl fence is not effective for containing sheep or preventing predators unless electric wires are placed between the board or the entire fence is covered with woven or mesh wire.
Ground-Level Protection
Whatever your choice of fencing for keeping sheep safe and secure, remember to include ground-level protection to create a barrier against predators who like to dig. Common solutions include
Burying your fence 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) below ground
Attaching an “apron,” or a horizontal section of wire fencing at the base of the fence
Placing a line of rocks at the base of the fence
Pouring a narrow strip of concrete along the fence line
Gate Considerations
Gates in your perimeter fence should be in logical areas that allow easy movement and access for people, sheep, and equipment. They should also be wide enough to facilitate trucks and other equipment. Sixteen feet (4.9 metres) is a commonly recommended size. Remember the following as well:
Permanent, heavy gates offer long-term function and resistance.
Predators can enter through gaps between the gate and the rest of the fence
Commonly flooded areas are not ideal
Gates must be able to function in snow as well as dry conditions.
Interior Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
Also called cross fences, interior fences are used to divide your sheep lands into small paddocks to facilitate managed, or rotational, grazing and to separate your flock as you wish. For example, you may want to keep weaned lambs from their dams and/or rams away from ewes.
Interior fencing does not need to be permanent, but it does need to be strong enough to keep each group of sheep safe and secure in the paddock in which you have placed them. Depending on the location of your paddocks and the state of your perimeter fencing, your interior fencing may need to be predator-proof. In this case, barbed wire can be run along the top to deter them.
Common Interior Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
Woven wire offers a good option for interior sheep fencing for three reasons:
Predators cannot easily penetrate it.
The woven wire knots do not slip, so the fence remains taut.
Sheep can rub against it without their wool getting caught.
Temporary fence panels are another interior fencing solution. They can be used in paddocks and barns. Their weight makes them a good long-lasting alternative to permanent fencing elsewhere on your farm as well.
Eight Things to Consider When Choosing Interior Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
Fencing for keeping sheep safe and secure should be 3-4 feet high.
The ideal spacing for woven wire fencing is 4 inches (10 cm) for vertical stays and 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) for horizontal ones.
Ensure there is an abundant access to water within your interior enclosure.
Gates and access between paddocks should be included in your configurations.
Consider the terrain and soil type when you choose your fencing material
Make sure your fencing choice is visible to your flock.
Choose a fencing system that will support and facilitate your grazing system
Learn More about Fencing for Keeping Sheep Safe and Secure
To find out more about fencing products for your sheep farm, contact the farm fencing experts at Ontario Wholesale Farm Direct. We offer farm fencing solutions for everything from hobby farms to large commercial operations. Call or email us today to inquire about our products, prices, and service throughout southern Ontario.