Electric Fences for Sheep and Goats
When designing your fence consider:
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the characteristics of the animal (i.e. coat thickness, hooves, behavior)
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if you are keeping animals in or keeping predators out
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type of fence (temporary or semi-permanent/permanent)
Note: If livestock get their heads between fence wires and receive a shock behind the eyes instead of in front of them, they tend to push into the fence rather than pull out. Proper wire spacing (a hot wire at the animal’s shoulder height) is important to safely contain your animals.
SHEEP
Sheep are relatively easy to contain with an electric fence because they tend to be docile. However, they present some unique challenges because wool does not conduct electricity and predators are frequently a problem.
Fence Wire
Depending on a variety of factors, the number of fence wires can vary from four to six, depending on:
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life expectancy of the fence
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whether you will keep lambs and ewes together
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if predators are a problem
As intense grazers, sheep tend to deplete vegetation in their pasture and frequently attempt to graze outside the fence. We recommend a minimum of 4 wires starting low to the ground and spaced to an overall height of 32” – 40”.
Fence Charger
Sheep require a fence charger that can maintain 4,000 – 5,000 volts on the fence line. Voltage levels are impacted by vegetation on the fence line, length of fence and type of wire.
In some areas, sheep may be attacked by predators such as wolves, coyotes, or stray dogs, requiring your fence to deter predators. A minimum of 5,000 volts on the fence line is required to keep out predators.
Zareba® does offer electrified sheep & goat netting that is easily portable and very affective at keeping sheep and goats in and predators out.
GOATS
Goats have an attitude – they tend to test fences by pushing against them, squeezing between the wires, and jumping over them. In addition, some species of goats have thick coats that insulate them from electric shock.
Fence Wire
Goats require closely spaced fence wires that start low to the ground and are high enough to prevent jumping over the fence. We recommend using five to six wires spaced to an overall height of 40” – 46”.
Zareba® does offer electrified Goat netting that is easily portable and very affective at keeping goats in and predators out.
Fence Chargers
To safely contain goats, you need a fence charger that maintains 4,000 – 5,000 volts on the fence line. Voltage levels are impacted by vegetation on the fence line, length of fence and type of wire.
Use the Fence Planner design tool for assistance in planning your fence.
Expert Tips
CHOOSING THE RIGHT FENCE CHARGER
The right fence charger is the heart of your electric fence system. Finding the best-matched charger for your fence is imperative to successfully contain/exclude animals. The experts at Zareba® Systems explain a simple process to ensure you buy the right fence charger to meet your needs.
More about Choosing the Right Fence Charger»
INSTALLATION AND LOCATION
Every Zareba® Systems fence charger comes with a detailed installation manual. In addition, individual components include “how-to” instructions to assist in your fence system assembly.
More about Installation and Location»
LIGHTNING AND POWER SURGE PROTECTION
Lightning is often the cause of fence charger failure. When lightning strikes the fence, the sudden power surge can travel down the fence wire and damage the fence charger.
A variety of properly installed products can prevent or limit lightning damage.
More about LIghtning and Power Surge Protection»
FAQs about Chargers
Q: How does electric fence work with rotational grazing?
A: Electric fencing is the perfect solution for containing animals on a short-term or temporary basis, as in rotational grazing. The lightweight mobility of portable electric fencing is ideal for frequently moving livestock to different sections of pasture.
Zareba® Systems has all the components needed to create a rotational grazing system including: step-in posts, poly wire and poly tape, reels and fence chargers. AC powered energizers are recommended but because pastures usually aren’t located near an AC power source, using a low impedance battery-powered or solar-powered fence charger is a good option as well.
Q: What factors should I consider when purchasing a fence
charger?
A: The power source (AC, Battery or Solar Powered), energy output (in joules), the type of animal being controlled, the length of the fence (more wires need more power) and the amount of vegetation growing near the fence should be considered when you are selecting your fence charger.
Q: What does Low Impedance mean? I see it on chargers in
stores and on websites.
A: Low impedance chargers increase the joules (energy) on a fence line if weeds or other vegetation touch the fence. Low impedance chargers are ideal for long, multi-strand poly wire, tape, rope or high tensile fence systems. Low impedance chargers are recommended for most applications and can be operated by AC, DC or Solar Power.
The other type of charger, known as a solid state charger, is usually used to control short-haired livestock, small animals, and pets where only moderate weed conditions exist. These chargers deliver a medium-amperage shock and can be operated by AC or DC.
Q: Why does my fence charger make clicking noises?
A: Most fence charger have a pulsed output. Every time it “clicks,” it is releasing energy to the fence that has been stepped up or increased through a capacitor and a transformer. This release of energy makes noise. Not all chargers make the clicking noise. The noise is designed for the owner of the charger and serves no functional purpose.
More FAQs»
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