sheep fence

[dfarms11]

Hi all! We just picked up a few dorpers. Just wondering what everyone uses for fence. I will probably put up a small paddock of field fence for these girls as there is only 4 ewes. Just thinking ahead though, might expand if all goes good. Does anyone actually use 5-7 strand hot wire or is that just a waste of time? Do you just spend the money on field fence and just be done with it? Thanks

[kato]

I could tell you better later in the year. We're going to use both, plus likely some of that portable netting. Right now they're in a pen made of sheep panels, with one side being field fence. The field fence works well, but one did get her head stuck in it one day. Too much wool, I guess.

From what I understand, the electric is best introduced to a shorn, or in the case of a Dorper, shedded out sheep. More bang for the buck. :-0 Also, we've been told to make sure the bottom wire is at about ear height, which I expect gives a pretty good zap.

[oldwest]

We use all field fence and have really good luck,the odd head stuck but rare.Sounds goofy but we also put those cheap twisted metal tent pegs on the bottom strand it keeps it down better and costs very little compared to chasing sheep around.

[oldwest]

For now, around the yard, we are using
55" field fence, with a barbed wire
another 5 inches above the top, for a
five foot high finished fence. I may add
a hot perimeter wire around the bottom
offset this spring. We are also looking
at several rolls of premier 1 permanent,
or semi permanent fences. The more I
research them, the better they look.
Easy to set up, easy to move, can fence
wherever you want pretty much. Creeks,
bushes, sloughy corners etc. Maximize
available land.

On our main long term pasture, we will
put up the expensive predator proof
electrified high tensile field fence,
and a wicked charger. The pasture is a
little ways away, and will have predator
pressure indeed. Sure it is expensive,
but putting in a crop, or buying a new
swather or whatever is WAY more
expensive. 5 to 10 grand a mile is not
really that bad when you consider it
will last 30 years plus, and it is a
pretty dang good fence. That would be
the perimeter, and it would be cross
fenced with poly net.

Course we may still need dogs, I am
under no delusions that any fence is
perfect, but I am not skimping on a
fence. I see a fence as the most
important thing in sheep ranching, after
the sheep themselves. I therefore take
it seriously! Again, being a grain
farmer, fences look cheap relative to
what I am used to.

[freewheat]

For now, around the yard, we are using
55" field fence, with a barbed wire
another 5 inches above the top, for a
five foot high finished fence. I may add
a hot perimeter wire around the bottom
offset this spring. We are also looking
at several rolls of premier 1 permanent,
or semi permanent fences. The more I
research them, the better they look.
Easy to set up, easy to move, can fence
wherever you want pretty much. Creeks,
bushes, sloughy corners etc. Maximize
available land.

On our main long term pasture, we will
put up the expensive predator proof
electrified high tensile field fence,
and a wicked charger. The pasture is a
little ways away, and will have predator
pressure indeed. Sure it is expensive,
but putting in a crop, or buying a new
swather or whatever is WAY more
expensive. 5 to 10 grand a mile is not
really that bad when you consider it
will last 30 years plus, and it is a
pretty dang good fence. That would be
the perimeter, and it would be cross
fenced with poly net.

Course we may still need dogs, I am
under no delusions that any fence is
perfect, but I am not skimping on a
fence. I see a fence as the most
important thing in sheep ranching, after
the sheep themselves. I therefore take
it seriously! Again, being a grain
farmer, fences look cheap relative to
what I am used to.

[dfarms11]

Ok. So it sounds like field fence is the
way to go! Thanks guys.

[kato]

A fellow I know who has sheep told me that a strand of good tight barb wire close to the ground helps keep them from wanting to sneak under the field fence.

[theplowboy]

Good question.
I guess to some one you know well who does not need all of the paperwork.

[Ronski]

Decided to keep it. Its not worth much to sell and its so small its perfect for moving augers etc.

[FarmRanger]

If you have a bill of sale for the farmsite that specifically says that the tractor is included, you have a bill of sale. If no $ amount is specifically listed for the tractor, you could check and document what other tractors that age and hours were selling for at that time. You would be able to justify that value as your initial capital purchase price to an auditor.

[Hopperbin]

If its not worth much then getting the cash and skipping the country and moving to Mexico is not an option.

[Bez]

Fencing - and sheep - always interesting.

We run a small paddock with regular sheep fencing - about 40 inches tall with the smaller openings at the bottom. It is perfect for keeping lambs and dogs in.

We also run some fields with very tight 4 strand electric. It seems to work well as long as you have a decent ground. With any snow it is only fair.

On top of that we have some old paige wire fencing - but we only run mature ewes in that field as the lambs will slip out through the openings.

We do not have any barbed on the place so I cannot speak to that.

We also use three strands of electric to rotate the grazing patterns in the main pastures. It usually works but evey now and then you will get a jumper that wants to find that "greener" grass.

Best to all

Bez