I think electric fence is the way to solve ram/fence problems. My rams
ruined the welded wire panels as well as the 2x6 boards I used to keep them
off the fence. After I put a single strand of electric wire around the
inside of the fence they stopped. Where I still have "regular fencing" I
have electric wire on both sides. It also keeps the ewes from rubbing on and
bending the wire fences. I have a single strand on the top to keep the llama
from reaching over and pushing the wire down.
The sheep have to be trained to learn about the electric fence. When I first
plugged in my new wires I enticed the rams over to the fence. After a few
zaps they learned to be very wary of it. This year I was able to have
breeding groups in adjacent pens as long as there was electric wire in
between. Anywhere there was not electric wire I had a several feet
separation. Since each ram had his own group of ewes he wasn't interested in
getting through that space.
I have a group of ewe lambs who does NOT respect the 3-strand polywire that
I use to strip graze my pasture. When I got a new charger it wasn't working
right and those lambs learned to go under the fence. Now that they are in
full fleece they have no respect for the polywire and they've ruined a lot
of the bottom strand by getting wool wrapped around it. That group has been
exiled to a separate area. I hope that when I turn them back out in the
spring and they have shorter wool (shear in Jan.) that they will learn to
respect it again. My ewe flock that has been trained to the fence NEVER
challenges the 3-strand fence.
Robin Lynde
Meridian Jacobs
Vacaville, CA
www.meridianjacobs.com
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