The right pasture fence will keep your animals contained, save you time, and help them stay healthier. A fenced-in pasture will make it easier to manage grazing, control internal parasites and encourage forage growth.

The type of pasture fence you choose will depend on what you are trying to accomplish. Talk with your neighbors and friends who have pastures about their fencing choices. Ask about their maintenance costs, durability, cost and warranties. It’s also a good idea to visit local dealers and manufacturers to see their products and talk with sales staff about materials, construction and cost.

You will need some basic tools to install a pasture fence, including fencing pliers, a pair of fencing splicers, tamping bars, post diggers, and a hammer or power tamper. You should plan ahead for your pasture fence project, allowing time for weather delays and to purchase any additional materials you might need.

Building Strong Barriers: Exploring Fencing Supplies for Farms

Consider the different types of fence materials and their strengths, weaknesses and costs. For example, a low-cost barbed wire fence is easy to see and provides a physical barrier for livestock. However, it can injure animals and can snag them on branches or other objects.

Other fence materials are more expensive but offer superior animal control. They include polywire, which is more visible than standard wire, and polytape, which offers even better visibility. These materials are best suited to semi-permanent or temporary use, such as in a rotational or controlled grazing system where you may need to move the fence more frequently. Electric fence reels that hold one to two spools of polywire or polytape are available for convenient and economical fence movement.