All you need to know about the different types of farm fencing

How to choose what type of farm fencing you need

Deciding on a fence to protect your livestock or crops is a major decision. Not only does it enclose your animals and your property, but your fencing repels any other animals or people from wandering onto your property.

Whether you have livestock or a crop that you want to protect, you have to determine what kind of fence will work best for your situation. While there are a few common styles of farm fencing to choose from, they can all be modified if needed to perfectly match your needs.

Common farm fences

Typically, farm fences are either wood or vinyl and sometimes utilize various metal wires to add to the structure or to replace rails completely. How you build your fence is the most important factor to protect your livestock. Do you have large animals? Small? Medium? To keep your property secure, there are some fences that are structured to handle larger animals, like horses, much better than others.

Post and rail fence

One of the most common types of wood fencing for farms is the post and rail style. With the right design, these can be effective for most livestock due to the large posts and thick rails. For the larger animals, it’s best to build a corral or feedlot at different points of the property to keep them from damaging your fence in one location too much.

These fences are quite aesthetically appealing and are a cost-effective option to keep your livestock protected. The design isn't overly complex which allows for a much faster installation and repair time while keeping maintenance simple and cheap. The bottom rail is typically raised above the ground which keeps the wood from decomposing and warping from the elements.

Snake rail fence

Another sturdy wooden fence option, these are built in a snake-like formation. Wooden logs hold each other up and provide additional stability making these fences great for cattle and horses. By resting larger diameter logs diagonally along a base block that has been properly stripped and treated to prevent decomposition, these fences can withstand the elements quite well despite the bottom block resting on the ground.

A log and block fence is similar to a snake rail style fence except that it has logs running parallel with the fence line on the ground instead of a diagonal pattern. Both options are quite sturdy and can safely protect larger livestock while keeping unwanted animals from entering.

Wire fences

For some fences, a high-tensile woven wire can be a substitute for the rails. These fences are vertical and horizontal wires that are woven together to create a grid between fence posts. Woven wire fences can be quite effective against small to medium-sized animals.

If deterring animals away from your fence line is more important to you, then barbed wire can be strung between fence posts and act as a reminder to any animals that they don’t want to try going through the fence. Chicken wire is not as strong a high tensile woven or barbed wire, but it is great for protecting chickens, other small animals, as well as crops and gardens from would-be predators.

Depending on the type of farm fencing you decide to go with, adding a certain type of wire may provide some additional support. Before you begin your fencing project, be sure to discuss all of your options with experts in the field.

At A & G Fencing, we strive to answer all of your questions and make suggestions to best protect your property. For more information on farm fencing or any inquiries about our installation, repair, or maintenance services, contact us today.