Ideas, News, Information, Stories & Opinions

Here are some safety considerations to follow

when installing electric fencing:

1. Only connect one energizer to a fence;

2. Under unusual fault conditions electric

fences can produce sparks. Therefore, keep

fences away from combustible materials.When

droughts and other conditions create a high risk

of wildfires, operate energizers on low power if

they are equipped with that option, or simply

turn energizers off.

3. Grounds for energizers should be at least 65

feet from utility grounding fields;

4. Avoid running fences parallel to power lines,

and try to install fences so that they cross

power lines at right angles. If you can’t avoid

parallel electric fences and power lines, offset

the fences at least 30 feet from the power lines,

and make sure the top fence wires are no more

than six feet high.

5. Do not attach fence wires to utility poles.

6. Landowners are responsible for preventing

audible interference with telephone lines.

Therefore, try to avoid installing electric

fences under telephone wires, and minimize

the distance that electric fence wires run parallel

to underground telephone cables.

7. Keep electric fences as far away from radio

antennas as possible.

8. Don’t touch fences with your head or mouth.

People with pacemakers or other heart problems

also should consult their doctors before

working with or near electric fences. No

humans or animals have died from electric,

grazing-system fences without becoming

entangled in them. However, some precautions

are necessary.

9. Never use barbed wire for electric fence wire

because people or animals could more easily

become entangled in it.

10. Post warning signs at least every 300 feet

where the public has access to electric fences,

such as along roads.

Order Here!! There are 12 different types of electric fence tape, wire, braid and rope in the Gallagher range. Tape is generally used where visibility is important, wire is preferable where wind or adverse weather conditions exist and braid is a woven product designed not to "tangle" or overstretch.

Each Gallagher 110-Volt Electric Fence Energizer / Charger / Fencer has performance indicator lights, built-in lightning protection and RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) suppressed circuitry to reduce noise on radios and televisions. Gallagher electric fence charger for sale.

All Gallagher Power Electric Fence Energizers carry a 3-year warranty, including lightning damage. In addition, each carries a 30-day, money-back, customer-satisfaction manufacturer guarantee. 

Free Energizer shipping in USA!!! 

Selecting an Energizer

The energizer is the heart of any electric-fence system, so select it carefully. A good unit will provide years of service if it is properly installed and maintained. Price should not be the determining factor. Many operators have started with farmstore specials that ended up crashing. The cost to purchase two or three cheap models is as much or more than the cost of purchasing a good one initially.

Purchase a low impedance Energizer with a minimum 5,000-volt output. It should produce 35-65 pulses per minute with each pulse lasting not more than 0.0003 seconds. Each pulse also should have an intensity of less than 300 m Amps.

Seek advice about energizers from experienced graziers, from sales people and from NRCS personnel. NRCS employees cannot recommend specific brands, but they can offer general advice. One of the best methods is to look at several operations similar to yours, and find out what those grazers are using and if they are happy with their units.

Consider the type of livestock to be controlled. For example, containing sheep, goats or horses may require special considerations for charger size and fence construction to ensure that the animals receive adequate shocks when they contact electric fences.

Purchase a larger unit (energizer) than you think you need because graziers usually expand their systems as they realize the benefits of modern electric fencing. Also increase the size of the energizer if you anticipate a high weed load near the fence. All energizers should come with manuals that explain installation and operation. Study the manual carefully.

Electric current (AMPS) only flows when a circuit is completed between a positive and negative terminal.

In this diagram the current cannot flow from the positive terminal to the negative terminal because the switch is open.

In this second diagram, the switch is now closed, allowing the current to flow from the positive terminal through the light bulb (lighting the bulb) to the negative terminal.
 
 
An electric fence circuit is made on a larger scale. The energizer fence terminal (positive) is connected to the insulated fence wires, and the energizer earth terminal (negative) is connected to galvanized metal stakes driven into the ground.

The same 'circuit completion' (second diagram above) is necessary before the animal gets a shock. An animal standing on the ground and touching the electrified wires (shown right) will complete the circuit like the closed switch in the second diagram above.

For example, a bird sitting on the wire will not receive a shock (shown left). It is not touching the ground so the circuit is not completed.  A person wearing insulated footwear will only receive a small shock because all the current cannot pass through the insulated soles.

​​

Dry, sandy or pumice soil is a poor conductor of electric current, so it is a good idea to add an ground (negative) wire into the fence. The animal must touch both a hot wire and ground wire to feel an effective shock.

Choosing the Right Energizer (Fence Charger)

Once you have decided what type of electric fence you want for your property, you will need an energizer also known as a fence charger to power it.  The ​correct energizer size for your property is determined by the type of animal to be fenced, distance of fence to be powered and the number of wires in the fence.

There are two types of energizers:

• Mains powered - these are energizer units which are plugged into a mains power supply.
• Battery/Solar powered - these are energizer units which can be left out in your paddock and require a battery to run them. Two batteries can be rotated on a regular basis or a solar panel can be an effective means of continuously charging your battery.

The continuous need for improvement in management and production practices is contributing to the increasingly popular use of electronic ID/RFID cattle tags in the cattle industry. EID tags are small “button-like” tags that are placed in the ear. Each EID tag has a unique 15-digit number printed on it, and the number can also be read by scanning the tag with an EID reader. These tags are designed to last for the life of the animal.

An EID Reader can be connected to a any Gallagher or Tru-test EID-compatible scale indicator for scanning electronic ID tags and associating the EID with the animal currently on the scale. Many cow-calf producers appreciate the Bluetooth (wireless) connection with the scale indicator as there are no cables between the reader and scale indicator to get in the way.

Multispecies Grazing: Management Techniques & Animal Care [CRAFT]

Event Overview

Location

Deep Roots Valley Farm

1047 Irish Creek Rd

Mohrsville, PA 19541

Date & Time

Wednesday, July 11

3pm - 5:30pm

Cost

Free

Event Description

Learn how to manage a multi-species grazing system, including implementing succession grazing techniques and caring for each animal species from start to finish, at Deep Roots Valley. 

Deep Roots Valley directly markets its product to consumers and restaurants. Over the past seven years, owners and operators Will and Kelly Smith have worked to convert their fifth-generation family farm from a conventional crop operations to a multispecies grazing operation. They intensively graze approximately 60 head of beef cattle, pasture raise 2,000 laying hens, pasture 5,000 broilers, and finish 15 pigs on their 150-acre farm in Berks County.

CRAFT

CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) events are designed for aspiring and beginning farmers, but can nonetheless provide valuable opportunities for experienced farmers to glean insights from their peers.

Speaker Information

Will and Kelly both worked in the restaurant industry before returning to Kelly’s family farm. From the start, Will and Kelly have aspired to revamp the farm to raise the healthiest food possible to feed their family and surrounding community.

FAQ

Do you allow walk-ins?

Limited space is available for this event. Please contact Aaron de Long to see if space for walk-ins is available.

What should I prepare/bring with me to this event?

Please wear appropriate footwear for walking outside.

Bring a reusable water bottle to fill on site and stay hydrated.

Bring a note-taking device.

Remember your business cards- PASA events are an excellent networking opportunity.

Bring your questions! Make the most of this event by preparing several questions for the day.

Who do I contact if I have more questions about this event?

Please contact Aaron de Long at (814) 349-9856 x25 or aaron@pasafarming.org for more information about this event.

Steps to Good Electric Fence Grounding Systems

Grounding is perhaps the most neglected component of many fence systems. We recommend three ground rods, 6’ deep and spaced 10’ apart are the minimum recommendation. Never attach copper to steel. Electrolysis can occur and result in corrosion which weakens shocking power. Use galvanized ground wire and grounding rods to avoid this problem.
 
Consider that most energizers use galvanized or stainless steel terminals – not copper. Think of your ground system as an antenna that gathers electricity in order to deliver the shock to the animal. Modern satellite receivers can tune in to more television channels than the “rabbit ear” antennas of the past. A hose clamp holding a piece of copper wire to a rusty t-post has been the weakest link of many electric fence systems.​​