PFC’s How To: Train Sheep & Cattle with Electric Fencing

Mar 22

Why Train Livestock?

• If your animals have never seen an electric fence before or not encountered one for more than 5 months (i.e. housed for winter) they should be trained.

• It is important to train animals to recognise and respect the electric fencing in a safe and low stress way.

• Training with this method greatly reduces the number of animals who try to challenge the fence.

• This will allow you to use the benefits of temporary or permanent electric fencing everywhere on the farm!

HOW TO:

Day 1 - Step 1

• Select a field with a secure boundary and sufficient pasture to feed the chosen group of animals for 5 days.

• Erect a 100-200m long fence 1m inside one of the boundaries.

• Place posts 8-10m apart for sheep and 10-12m for cattle.

• Avoid water troughs.

• If weather is bad then do not fence along the most sheltered hedge.

Step 2

• Connect energiser to the fence and test voltage on fence using a fence tester to ensure:

• Sheep – Minimum 6000V

• Cattle – Minimum 5000V

Day 1 - Step 3

• Move group of animals into the field.

• Do not drive the group towards the fence, remove any dogs.

• Most curious animas will approach fence and touch with nose to receive a shock.

• 99% will jump backwards, if one does jump forwards through the fence it can not escape (learns there is not reward for breaking out)

• Check regularly for first 24h, particularly wire tension, adjust if needed.

• If an animal becomes trapped between electric fence and boundary fence then release by opening up the end of the fence and walking out.

Day 2

• Check fence in morning. If no problems then proceed to step 4, if fence challenged or if training sheep/lambs then make any adjustments, check voltage and leave for another day.

Step 4

• Move fence and use it to divide the field in half.

• Pay close attention when erecting fence to ensure follow ground contour and use enough posts to keep consistent wire height.

• Check voltage on the fence using voltage tester (see step 2 for voltage).

• Ensure all animals are in 1 half with access to water trough!

• Check regularly, not expecting any animals to cross fence, if an animals does note its tag number and return by disconnecting the fence at one end.

• Any repeat escapees should be removed from the group.

Day 3 or 4 – Step 5

• Check fence in morning

• If no problems then stock are fence trained!

• Remove from field and start grazing!

Top Tips for newly trained stock

• If moving to a new field let animals explore field first before erecting electric fence – particularly for cattle who when running may not see a temporary fence.

• Ensure you check voltage daily

• Ensure keep wire height consistent when erecting fences (post spacing and wire tension)

• Identify and remove any repeat escapees