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    sheep fence

    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

    #2
    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.

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      #3
      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.

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        #4
        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.

        Comment


          #5
          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.

          Comment


            #6
            Ok. So it sounds like field fence is the
            way to go! Thanks guys.

            Comment


              #7
              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.

              Comment


                #8
                Good question.
                I guess to some one you know well who does not need all of the paperwork.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Decided to keep it. Its not worth much to sell and its so small its perfect for moving augers etc.

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                    #10
                    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.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      If its not worth much then getting the cash and skipping the country and moving to Mexico is not an option.

                      Comment


                        #12
                        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

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