Sheep Fencing GuideOur helpful guide to sheep fencing costs offers a short but thorough overview of some of the most popular types of fencing for sheep used by shepherds today. On this page you will find a short description of each type of fence, a rough estimate of the cost of materials to build each type of fence in the United States and some photos and practical advice to help you choose the best fencing option for your budget and your flock.
While a large and permanent sheep fencing installation can be expensive, a productive flock of sheep which is safe from predators year after year can quickly pay for an investment in a high-quality permanent perimeter fence. If you only have a small number of sheep don't worry! We'll cover some appropriate, easy-to-install, budget-friendly options that work really well too. |
Sheep Fence MenuWelded Wire Fencing |
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New Featured Temporary Sheep Fence Product:
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Sheep Fencing Cost Comparison (Estimates - Scroll Down for More Detail)
"Welded Wire" perimeter fencing is a popular choice for many flocks of sheep because it is strong, durable, and long-lasting. It also does a nice job of keeping predators at bay if properly installed.
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Uses for Welded Wire Fencing for SheepWelded wire fencing is an excellent choice for strong, sturdy, long-lasting perimeter fencing. Typically this style of fence is purchased in a large roll which can be attached to a corner post and then pulled tight and stretched along the fence posts with a tractor, come-along or a welded wire fence stretcher. Occasionally a strip of barbed wire or high tensile electric fencing is attached near the bottom and/or top of the fence to help keep predators at bay.
Potential Drawbacks of Welded Wire Sheep Fencing |
While this style of fencing is great for sheep, it can be a bit time-consuming to construct and, if it does ever break (usually this will only happen if you drive into it with a tractor, truck or if a tree limb falls on it) repairing, patching or doing other maintenance can take extra time as well. This difficulty can be offset, however, by the reality that if properly constructed a welded wire sheep fence can last for 10-15 years or more with zero maintenance. Installation for a welded wire fence is really a two person job so you're advised not to try to muscle a heavy roll of wire by yourself, even if you have a tractor to help you move the roll to the installation location.
Things to Consider When Installing a Welded Wire Fence for your Sheep
Be sure to consider the height of the fence relative to the surrounding area. If you are fencing alongside a road on the downward slant you'll want a slightly taller fence to deter dogs and other potential sheep predators from jumping over the fence to chase your flock. You will also want to consider whether your welded wire sheep fence will be running along relatively flat or irregular ground. Unlike a high tensile electric perimeter fence, it's more challenging to get a welded wire fence to pull tight along the ground if there are a number of irregularities. Gaps below the wire will present potential risks as entry points for predators or exit points for curious lambs so consider stretching a single strand of electric wire with a strong charge along the bottom of your welded wire fence if this is an issue. You should also be aware that if you're fencing alongside a road and live in a place with heavy snowfall during the winter that the plow will often push snow into your welded wire fencing. It's common to experience sagging after a long winter so you can anticipate having to re-stretch and tighten roadside runs during the spring. Take this into account when you staple your fence to fence posts.
Cost Estimate: 1 Acre of Welded Wire Fence for Sheep
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TOTAL: $1194 to Fence a Square 1 Acre Paddock with Welded Wire Sheep Fencing
**Note that this total does not include the cost of a steel gate for this 1 acre paddock, and that the cost of this style of fencing diminishes when you fence in a larger area (fewer corners/gates). There are also some ways to cut cost (Home Depot or Lowes often offer a lower-cost welded wire fencing product but I really recommend the Red Brand as it's the best quality and stands the test of time. Purchasing a quality fence stretcher is a worthwhile investment - not only will it make the installation of your welded wire fence easier, but it will help you extend the life of your fence (each spring you can quickly pull each length of fence tight again and tack in a new row of staples ... this can help keep your corners solid and allows your fence to remain functional and sturdy for years. Optional additions are a strip of electric or barbed wire along the bottom of your fence to deter predators and if you feel like creating a very permanent welded wire fence which will last for years you can invest in additional pressure treated or cedar posts (pictured above) instead of heavy duty steel T-posts. While more expensive than some fencing options and more challenging to install, this is an extremely secure style of fence which is very effective for containing sheep and deterring predators.
**Note that this total does not include the cost of a steel gate for this 1 acre paddock, and that the cost of this style of fencing diminishes when you fence in a larger area (fewer corners/gates). There are also some ways to cut cost (Home Depot or Lowes often offer a lower-cost welded wire fencing product but I really recommend the Red Brand as it's the best quality and stands the test of time. Purchasing a quality fence stretcher is a worthwhile investment - not only will it make the installation of your welded wire fence easier, but it will help you extend the life of your fence (each spring you can quickly pull each length of fence tight again and tack in a new row of staples ... this can help keep your corners solid and allows your fence to remain functional and sturdy for years. Optional additions are a strip of electric or barbed wire along the bottom of your fence to deter predators and if you feel like creating a very permanent welded wire fence which will last for years you can invest in additional pressure treated or cedar posts (pictured above) instead of heavy duty steel T-posts. While more expensive than some fencing options and more challenging to install, this is an extremely secure style of fence which is very effective for containing sheep and deterring predators.
Properly installed and maintained, a high-tensile electric fence can last for 20+ years. It's one of the most popular options for large pastures.
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Uses for High Tensile Electric Sheep FencingHigh tensile electric fencing is a sturdy, highly conductive style of perimeter fence which carries a strong enough charge to effectively contain sheep and deter predators when well maintained. Typically galvanized steel, each run of high tensile electric fencing will have a tensioner (one style pictured at left) for each strand as a means of easily maintaining this fence (tightening it periodically as the fence naturally sags over time). Generally this style of fence is installed for sheep with either 5 or 7 strands depending upon the installation environment, your budget and the threat of predators. The advantage of installing high tensile fencing as a perimeter fence around a large pasture is that it allows shepherds to easily strip their pasture into smaller paddocks to use for effective rotational grazing, increasing the health of their pasture.
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Potential Drawbacks to Using High Tensile Electric Fencing
Overall I'm a huge proponent of this style of fencing and if I was investing in sheep for the long-haul I would certainly choose this style as one of the core elements of my perimeter fencing. While this style of fencing can be challenging to work with and time-consuming to set-up and build initially, it's easy to maintain and lasts a long time. Growing up, we installed this for our cattle and sheep on my family farm and having Gallagher high tensile fencing surrounding our large pastures allowed us to easily use plastic mesh temporary fencing and polywire strip fencing (both of these are covered in-depth lower on this page) to sub-divide our pastures and maintain the health of our grasslands through proper rotational grazing. Installation certainly won't happen overnight ... expect to invest some time to set up this style of fencing. It's worth doing it right to make it last.
Cost of a High Tensile Electric Fence for Sheep (1 Acre Paddock)
Since there are so many more products required to assemble a high tensile electric fence relative to the alternatives here, we used Zareba's online fence planner to build a shopping list of products. Other sites like Gallagher have similar tools available and if you have questions we recommend that you contact your local rep or send us an email and we'll be happy to point you in the right direction. This is what our Zareba shopping list looked like for a 1 acre, 5 strand high tensile perimeter fence with all the bells and whistles ... we hope this offers a quick ballpark glimpse of what a high tensile electric fence may cost relative to some of these other styles, but please remember that this is a fence style which is designed to surround large sections of grassland so the bigger the area you plan to fence, the lower your cost per foot will be.
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TOTAL: $1929.23 to fence a square 1-acre paddock
Please keep in mind that the relative cost of fencing more of your pasture with high tensile electric fencing will be lower as this style of fencing is designed to be long-lasting and to secure extended stretches of field. Today's high tensile electric fencing products for sheep are designed to last 25+ years, making this an excellent investment if you plan to raise sheep for the long haul. Our recommendation if you're just starting out is to go with a less expensive (and less permanent option), and when you're sure that you plan to maintain a flock for a decade or more, that's a great time to invest in a permanent, efficient high-tensile perimeter fence from Zareba, Gallagher or Parmak. There are links to each of these fencing suppliers under "Additional Resources" at the bottom of this page. |
If you're considering building or repairing a high tensile electric sheep fence consider shopping Gallagher fencing. My first sheep fence was built with Gallagher products and it lasted over 20 years with very little maintenance. Click Here to Learn More
Uses for Plastic Mesh FencingFor smaller and temporary paddocks and rotational grazing setups for smaller flocks a good option is poly electrified mesh fencing. This style of fence (pictured left and below) is secure, highly visible to sheep and to predators, and comes with plastic stakes which allow for a secure, solid installation in a variety of soil types.
Rolls of this temporary fencing typically come in 50 foot lengths and mesh fencing for sheep is lightweight and easy to install and remove. Once installed it will stay in place for a month or more without issue, but it is easily moved once every couple of days if needed. Potential Drawbacks to Using Plastic Mesh Fencing |
Plastic mesh temporary fencing is a terrific option for small farms (under 100 sheep) - an excellent way to create small, temporary paddocks.
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The downside to this popular style of fencing is that it can sometimes become tangled when rolled up for storage, making it time consuming to unroll when you first use it in the spring. Despite this small nuisance, most brands of mesh fencing are very well-designed and can last for many years, making them an extremely cost-effective option for both large and small farms.
Cost Estimate: 1 Acre of Electric Mesh Sheep Fencing
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Despite the occasional tangle when unrolling this fence from storage, plastic mesh fencing is extremely durable and will last for 10 or more years if stored properly in winter.
While there are many different colors and styles of mesh fencing available to shepherds, there really isn't a bad choice among them. When selecting the plastic mesh fence for your flock take into consideration the following:
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TOTAL: $906 to fence a square one acre paddock
**Keep in mind that one or two rolls of this style of fencing is enough to subdivide a large pasture or create a temporary area for a small flock of sheep to graze, moving the fence every few days so your sheep have access to fresh grass and don't overgraze your paddock. We recommend ordering the charger and several rolls of fencing as a package so you can get set up as soon as it arrives. |
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Inexpensive and easy to replace, polywire fencing is great for sectioning off large fields for rotational grazing.
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Uses for Poly Rope or Poly Tape FencingPoly rope or tape fencing is generally used as a cost-savings measure vs traditional electric perimeter fencing options. Alternatively, many shepherds use this inexpensive conductive poly wiring to segment their pastures for effective rotational grazing and pasture management. While this style of fencing is not as durable as either galvanized steel electric fencing or welded wire perimeter fencing, the benefit to shepherds is how flexible and inexpensive it is. We feel it's the best option for interior fencing providing your electric fence charger packs a good punch.
Potential Drawbacks to using Polywire Sheep FencingThe primary drawback is that this brand of fencing isn't as long-lived as some other options, but this style of sheep fencing doesn't have to be quite as durable ... during its short lifespan it's effective and it's cheap enough that buying more every few years is usually manageable.
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Cost Estimate: 1 Acre of 5-Strand Poly Electric Fencing
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TOTAL: $983 to fence a square one acre paddock
**The package detailed above includes enough electric poly rope to run 5 strands of fencing around one square acre of land with a few plastic fence posts and plenty of poly rope left over to enlarge the pasture slightly if need be. Often this style of fencing is used to segment a large, permanent galvanized steel electric perimeter fence and if this is how you plan to use it then you can expect to pay even less (you won't need the corner post materials listed here). We recommend ordering the charger and several rolls of fencing as a package to enjoy free shipping and additional discounts based on volume. You can order the items online by clicking the relevant links above.
**The package detailed above includes enough electric poly rope to run 5 strands of fencing around one square acre of land with a few plastic fence posts and plenty of poly rope left over to enlarge the pasture slightly if need be. Often this style of fencing is used to segment a large, permanent galvanized steel electric perimeter fence and if this is how you plan to use it then you can expect to pay even less (you won't need the corner post materials listed here). We recommend ordering the charger and several rolls of fencing as a package to enjoy free shipping and additional discounts based on volume. You can order the items online by clicking the relevant links above.
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While these sheep pasture fence options are for large spaces, around your barn or shed you'll likely use more traditional options including wooden fence panels or lightweight (but strong) tubular metal gates and panels (often constructed of steel or aluminum). Smaller sections of fencing are a great choice for creating holding pens, lambing jugs or small paddocks as they allow for flexibility, are easily moved and when it comes time to clean out your barn you can simply take the barn fencing down and clean out the bedding with your tractor or a rented skid-steer.
Here are a few of our favorite places to purchase gates and metal panels for containing and handling sheep:
Some of the Most Popular Electric Fence Chargers
Luckily these days electric fence chargers are durable, powerful and affordable, allowing farmers to select from a variety of chargers to suit their unique needs.
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As you consider your fence layout don't forget about access to and from your fields for your tractor or ATV. Make sure gates are located in dry areas and installed properly.
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While there are many good ones here are a few of our favorites with a short explanation about what we liked about each charger:
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Parmak is one of the most trusted names in electric fencing equipment and their Super Energizer 5 Fence charger is equipped to successfully charge up to 50 miles of high tensile electric fencing.
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A solar fence charger is a great option for portable/temporary sheep fencing or for use on open ranges where access to regular electricity is limited. This Parmak model is one of our favorites.
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My first sheep fence was built with 100% Gallagher products and everything from the charger to the high tensile wire lasted well over 20 years without issue. I trust their products and gladly recommend them whenever I'm asked.
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Additional Useful Resources
- Zareba Systems has a very cool electric fence planning resource which leverages satellite imagery to allow you to completely map and customize your fence based on actual images of your property. Whatever you decide to use for products, this tool is worth using. Their printable PDF fence planner is also great.
- Gallagher also has a useful sheep electric fence planning page which helps you determine the correct spacing for a high tensile electric fence for sheep. Their PDF guide to fencing for sheep is very detailed and informative.
- Parmak offers a very concise guide to planning how many supplies you'll need to purchase for your fence based on the distance you'll need to fence. The graphic and table provided on this page is a pretty helpful quick-reference, as is the rest of their installation guide.
If this page has been a useful resource to you as you plan your sheep fencing or research options please share it with others or consider adding a link to it on your farm's site so others can find it! Thanks for reading and please take some time to explore our other in-depth articles, sheep equipment reviews and resources.