In agriculture, fences control animals’ access to or departure from an area. A variety of materials can be used to construct fences. What kind of materials to use depends on the terrain of the area to be fenced in, the location, and the type(s) of animals to be enclosed.
Domesticated livestock used to roam freely before fencing was developed. In areas where they were unwelcome, such as gardens or crop fields, they were fenced out. A growing population and an increase in row crop farming eventually forced livestock farmers to fence in their animals. Furthermore, Fence supply Brisbane provides you with all the information you need to know.
Stone and wood were some of the primary materials used to construct early fences.
Table of Contents
Types of Fencing
Wood
It is common to use wood for fencing. There are many affordable options depending on the wood selected, and it provides a traditional look. There are numerous types of wood, including pine, cedar, and redwood, which have varying prices. Polyurethane stains and preservatives are usually applied to wood fencing to extend its lifespan and resist insects and rot.
Additionally, wood is a reasonable choice if you have land with an existing timber stand that can be harvested. In horse farms and barns where livestock is kept close, wood fences are common. A single strand of electrified wire or polymers may sometimes be used with it.
Pipe
A steel pipe fence can be strong, sturdy, and relatively low-maintenance. You may use it together with stranded cable or in combination with it to construct corrals, pens, and continuous fencing. Depending on your preference, it may be galvanized or ungalvanized and painted.
Depending on the market, pipe fencing is priced differently. When oil fields are nearby, scrap pipe can be a lower-cost option.
Vinyl / PVC
PVC, also known as vinyl, is a synthetic plastic made of vinyl, polypropylene, nylon, and polythene, among others.
A durable horse fencing option, synthetic fencing became widely available in the 1980s. Farm fences and residential fences are among its current uses.
Preformed vinyl fences are easy to maintain. As well as being weather-resistant, it requires relatively little upkeep. In addition to its high price, vinyl fences may degrade in quality in extremely hot or cold environments.
Wire
Tension is used to keep wire fences from sagging, and the wire is stretched between wooden posts, commonly at corners, ends, and at key points along long spans, usually 150 to 1000 feet. The wires are spaced and upright by smaller posts located every 10 to 20 feet between the braced posts.
Nine to seventeen gauges of wire are common. Larger diameters are indicated by smaller gauge numbers on wire. Conversely, thinner fence wire is associated with higher gauge numbers. Electric fence wires are usually between 14 and 17 gauges in thickness.
Types of wire fence
Barbed Wire
As a steel fence constructed with sharp points or edges spaced at regular intervals along the strand, barbed wire dates back to the late 19th century. The first livestock restraining wire technology, it is used commonly to build inexpensive fences.
Barbed wires are available in many different styles. Two to five strands are typical strand variations. Inexperienced fencers can easily and quickly construct barbed wire fences, as all they need is fence posts and wire, along with a device to attach the wire to the posts, such as staples.
When handling barbed wire fencing, precautions should be taken to prevent injury (from the barbs). Prevent bodily harm by wearing gloves, protective clothing, and boots. Furthermore, barbed wire shouldn’t be used as a livestock fence. When animals are in contact with barbed wire, they are likely to be injured.
Woven Wire
Wire woven with “knots” around each intersecting strand gives the appearance of being woven. The cost of woven wire is higher than basic wire, but it is less costly and safer than wood, pipe, and other types of fencing.
A woven wire fence is an effective means of containing pigs, sheep, or goats if it is combined with barbed wire or electricity at the top and/or bottom.
(NOTE: Woven wire with large openings (also known as sheep fence) can pose potential safety hazards to wild animals and horses. A field fence is woven wire used in this case, with narrower, smaller openings on the bottom and larger openings on top.)
Chain-Link
A chain-link fence is a woven fence constructed from galvanized or coated steel wire. Chain-link fencing is made with vertically bended wires that are zigzagged to create a diamond pattern. The hooking of two wires together produces the straight line seen in chain-link fencing.
It is available in a wide range of heights, mesh gauges, and lengths and generally comes in 20 rod and 50 foot rolls. In general, 9, 11, and 11.5 mesh gauges are used.
In addition to its easy installation and low cost, chain-link fencing, like that used in yards and playgrounds, is also used for enclosing pets and animals, such as birds.
Smooth Wire
Steel or aluminum wire, usually made from steel or aluminum, is used for smooth wire fencing. It has no barbs and is smooth as the name suggests. Horses and other animals that are prone to entanglement can be contained with smooth wire and a fence charger.
Animals are more likely to fall victim to injuries when entangled or rubbed up against smooth wire. The wire will lose its form quickly when animals lean on it or loosen from posts since it is elastic. To maintain fence integrity, smooth wire needs to be electrified. Fence-post braces can also be secured with smooth wire.
High-Tensile
It is a hard, springy steel wire, designed in the 1970s, capable of withstanding greater tension than typical smooth or barbed wire produced from mild steel. It’s easy to install, it doesn’t stretch over time, it can be insulated, and it can be electrified.
High-tensile fence requires fewer posts as opposed to a regular wire fence, making it an economical choice. In addition to trellising vines like grape vines or hop vines, high-tensile wire can be used for horticultural purposes.
If strung at the recommended tension of 250 pounds per strand, the wire can withstand up to 1650 pounds of livestock pressure per strand during low temperature contractions. A high-tensile fence will last longer if it is regularly inspected and maintained at the recommended tension.
Steel that is considered high-tensile is usually 12 or 12.5 gauge galvanized steel. Unless specified on the packaging, 12 gauge or larger fence wire is not considered high-tensile.
Considering Electric Fencing?
A wide variety of animals can be controlled with electric fences. From an electric fence charger, also known as an energizer, a pulsed electrical current is sent along fence wire every second. In this way, the animals learn to avoid the electric fence by being subjected to short and sharp electrical pulses which create a psychological barrier.
A contact between an animal and an electrified wire completes the electrical circuit by passing the current through the animal to the ground. Until the animal remembers the shock and is protected from it in the future, the electrical current flowing through the wire will be sufficient for it to remember the shock.
Animals, snow and winds can cause some damage to the fence if it is not designed and constructed well. Chargers for electric fences need to be powerful enough to control animals and to cover the fence’s length.
An electric fence circuit is formed by the Earth, so having a properly installed ground circuit is extremely important.
Fence wires containing electricity must not come into contact with anything conductive on a continuous basis, including shrubs, tall grass, etc. A fence wire that loses its electric charge will be unable to shock, resulting in a short circuit.
A ground rod(s) must always be connected to the charger’s ground terminal, regardless of the fence wire system used.
An electric fence system’s heart is its fence charger. To successfully contain/exclude animals it is imperative to find the charger most compatible with your fence.