Electric fencing earns its place where you want flexible, effective stock control without the cost of a full permanent boundary. Ben builds it across South Wales and travels for the right job.
Ben sets up permanent and semi-permanent electric fencing — energiser, earthing, line wire or tape on insulated posts — for stock control and grazing rotation. Done properly, with a correctly sized energiser and good earthing, it is a genuine psychological barrier that trains and holds stock; done badly, with poor earth and a weak pulse, it is just a string animals learn to ignore.
It works well as a deterrent strand along the top of post and rail to stop horses leaning and cribbing, as a quick way to cross-fence rotation paddocks, and as a flexible boundary on ground where a permanent fence is not justified. Ben sizes the energiser to the length of line and the stock, and gets the earthing right — which is the part most DIY electric fences get wrong.
It is not a replacement for a proper permanent boundary where one is needed, and Ben will tell you straight when a job wants real stock fencing instead. But for control, rotation and deterrence, a well-set electric system is a practical, cost-effective tool.
Nine times out of ten it is poor earthing or an undersized energiser. The pulse needs a good earth return through the ground to give the animal a proper deterrent; weak earthing or too small an energiser for the length of line leaves it ineffective. Ben sizes the energiser and sets the earthing correctly so it actually does its job.
Yes — a single electric tape along the inside top of the rails is a very effective deterrent against leaning, cribbing and reaching over, and it is low cost to add. It can go on a new build or be retro-fitted to existing post and rail.
It can be permanent for stock control, but it is not a substitute for a solid physical boundary where one is genuinely needed (roadside, security, sole containment of valuable stock). Ben will advise honestly where electric is the right tool and where a proper stock or post and rail fence is the safer call.
More on our common questions page.
Stock netting strained tight on creosote strainers and HC4 intermediates — built to hold livestock for the long haul.
Stock fencing →Paddock boundaries and divisions — post and rail, stock wire and gates for horses and livestock.
Paddock fencing →Farm boundaries, grant-spec runs, stock netting and gates — proper agricultural fencing for working land.
Agricultural fencing →See all the areas we cover, or read our common questions.
No call-out fee, no obligation. Tell Ben what you are after and he will arrange a free site visit, then quote you a fixed price.