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Fencing for sheep and goats can be challenging. The topic alone generates plenty of questions and comes with real-world troubleshooting on the farm.
In this Q&A session, Gallagher expert Ray Williams joins me (Leslie Svacina of GrazingWithLeslie.com and Cylon Rolling Acres) to answer questions submitted by fellow farmers, ranchers, and homesteaders.
Key topics on goat and sheep fencing covered include:
- Terrain challenges and animal training
- Electric fence setup and grounding
- Permanent vs. portable fencing options
- Troubleshooting ideas
- Cost-saving tips and funding resources
Watch the full Q&A video
Resources mentioned in the video
Here are the tools and resources mentioned in my YouTube video Expert Q&A Session: Goat and Sheep Fencing Challenges and Set Up. From fencing products to energizers and planning tools, this list covers everything we discussed.
Fencing Products and Tools
- Smart Fence – Portable 4-wire electric fence system.
- Sheep and Goat Netting – Electric net fence for small ruminants. Uses turbo wire, which is more highly conductive than traditional poly wire built into net fencing.
- High Tensile Wire – Ideal for permanent multi-strand electric fences.
- Turbo Wire – Braided plastic wire with high conductivity, used in both Smart Fence and netting. Also great for building multistrand temporary paddocks.
- Woven Wire Fence – Traditional wire fence with graduated spacing, used in perimeter fencing.
- Fiberglass Posts and Clips (⅜ inch) – Recommended for steep or uneven terrain.
- Post Insulators – For use on wood or metal posts to prevent shorts.
- Fence Tester – Essential tool for measuring fence voltage accurately. (Economical option or my favorite one)
- Ground Rods (3 ft T-handle) – Portable grounding rods for temporary systems. Easy to pull out.
- Ground Rod Wire (Galvanized) – Connects ground rods back to the energizer.
- Offset Insulators – Used for modifying existing fences (t-post or wood post option).
Energizers
- Gallagher S80 Lithium Solar Energizer – 0.8-joule, portable lithium-powered energizer.
- AC-Powered Energizers – Offer more output per dollar if you have barn power.
- Solar or Battery-Powered Energizers – Ideal for rotational or temporary grazing setups.
- Lead-Out Cable – Used to connect the energizer to distant fence lines when sourcing power from a barn.
Fence Maintenance + DIY Suggestions
- Dry Silicone Lubricant – For maintaining Smart Fence reels.
- 3/8″ Steel Rod – Helpful for punching holes in tough ground before placing Smart Fence posts.
- Gas-Powered Weed Eater or Brush Cutter – For clearing fence paths.
- ATV + Chain Link Fence Drag – A creative DIY tool for mowing down tall vegetation.
- UTV + Mower Path Beating – Used to prep fencing lanes before installation.
Grazing and Fence Planning Resources
- Training Paddock – Not a product, but a must-have for electric fence training. Get Leslie’s free fence training guide here.
- NRCS EQIP Conservation Program – A cost-share program focused on assisting farmers to implement new conservation practices, including rotational grazing systems. This type of program will often help cover some of the costs for installing new perimeter fencing and water system infrastructure.
- Other Grant Opportunities:
- Food Animal Concerns Trust (FACT) Grants – For pasture management and fencing tools.
- Local Food Co-op Farm Grants – Often available near metro areas for farm infrastructure needs.
- More about grant writing for farmers
- Gallagher Fencing 101 Guide – A helpful educational resource covering fence design and setup.
Gallagher customer service and Smart Fence replacement parts ordering
Often fencing brands, like Gallagher, will ofter technical assistance to their customers to help troubleshoot any challenges or questions on the farm or ranch with their respective fencing equipment and energizers.
If you have specific questions with your fencing set up and you’re using Gallagher product(s), you can call their customer service line at 1-800-531-7908.
This same 800-number can be used to order replacement parts for the Gallagher SmartFence. Note, our coupon code does not work on these phone call orders. But fortunately, replacement parts are pretty economical.
Final thank you
Finally, a special thank you to the Ray Williams and the team at Gallagher for working with me on the special Q&A session for sheep and goat fencing. While I am part of Gallagher’s Homesteader partner program, this project was done simply as an opportunity to help other farmers and ranchers with their goat and sheep fencing challenges.
I know fencing is an important facet of our farms, especially with small ruminants, and it often can be the breaking point of folks getting out of raising sheep and/or goats. If I can help others set up a fencing and grazing system that works for their farm, ranch or homestead that is a big win in my book.
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