The Premier ElectroStop (taller -- I think 42 inches) and ElectroNet (shorter -- maybe 36 inches tall) temporary fence can be a wonderful temporary way to enclose paddocks for rotational grazing. I have bought several rolls and used them year-round. However, it is important to keep in mind that these types of net fencing can become not only ineffective, but can end up being dangerous to the grazing animals if the fences are left in place without being hooked up to an electrical charge for a period of time. I learned this the hard way, and hope you can learn from my mistake.
For a year, I used my ElectroStop fencing to enclose a 100 x 200 foot area within a 5 acre pasture. Since it was interior fencing, I decided after awhile that there was no need to electrify it, and I disconnected it from the power source. My lambs and ewes continued to graze in the areas on either side of it. But after a few weeks, I noticed that some of the yearling lambs were catching their ear tags in the fence and pulling on it as they attempted to untangle themselves. One yearling even got so tangled that he was laying on the ground when I found him, with his feet all tied up in the fencing. I had to cut some of the fence away from his hooves to get him out. Of course this ruined that section of my fencing. I should have realized that the problem would get worse as time went on, but I didn't guess how bad things would get.
Then last September, I was out of town for a few days, and a neighbor looked in on my sheep for me while I was gone. When I came back, they told me that there was nearly a disaster at my place, because another of the yearling lambs had gotten tangled up in the fencing. This time, the lamb had twisted and rolled the fencing so that it became tightly noosed around his neck, and as he desperately struggled to free himself, he was close to strangling. His feet were hopelessly caught, and again, he lay on the ground inside layers of webbing, almost unable to breathe. He had possibly been laying there for many hours, since the neighbors only checked my place once per day. They had to cut the fencing off the sheep to save his life. They freed his neck first, and then most of the rest of his body. However, the fencing was so tightly pulled and knotted around one hoof that they were not even able to cut the fence away with a knife. When I returned, I was able to finish the job and save his foot, but it had been so strangulated by the fencing strands that it had cut through his flesh. Fortunately, his foot healed, and he was lucky to be alive!
It is amazing how much trouble yearling lambs can get into when you're not there. But it is just as amazing that I did not see this problem developing. If I had kept the ElectroStop fencing hot, this would never have happened. And I ended up tearing up quite a bit of the fencing, trying to free up and save my lambs. But happily, this stuff can be repaired by simply knotting the broken strands together.
Anyway, I hope this will remind everyone that temporary electronet fencing is wonderful -- just remember to keep it hot when using it!
Sincerely, Mary Swindell
At 12:02 PM 5/3/2004 -0600, you wrote:
Message: 1 From: "Barb Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 11:40:43 -0700 Subject: [blackbelly] More Fencing Options and Thank You Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
I found this site while browsing around for more rotational grazing/fencing options, and thought it was worth sharing - hope that is acceptable here. It is a type of mesh electric fence. I saw a small flock of woolies being contained in an electric mesh fence enclosure last year and it looked like just the ticket. The site is http://www.premier1supplies.com/store/fencing.html
Best regards, Barb Lee
Mary Swindell Illinois Regional Director, BBSAI Bellwether Farm 815 Bell Hill Road Cobden, IL 62920 (618) 893-4568 (home) (618) 453-1697 (work) [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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