The Best Farm Fencing: Most Suitable Fences for an Agricultural Farm

How do you choose the best farm fencing? Well, how long’s a piece of string? 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and it depends on how your land is used, your livestock and crops, and the control, security, and longevity you’re after. The acreage of your land is also a big influencing factor.

To help you find the right option, this guide will explore the different types of farm fencing in the UK. We’ll also look at why they’re great and not-so-great and give you all the info you need to choose the best farm fence for your requirements.

The Best Farm Fencing at a Glance 

Types of Farm Fencing Explained

Post and Rail Fencing

Post and rail agricultural fencing is the classic all-rounder, and it’s a familiar sight across the British countryside. Strong and easy to maintain, its high visibility creates brilliant boundaries around open paddocks and access roads. It’s therefore ideal for containing all kinds of animals, from horses to cattle, sheep, and more. 

In terms of composition, post and rail fencing is usually made from pressure-treated timber, with upright posts at regular intervals and horizontal rails fixed between them. This gives it great durability and makes it easy on the eye.

Because of its aesthetically pleasing design, post and rail fencing is often used for front-facing fields or areas open to the public. It’s flexible, too, and wire mesh can be added between rails to increase security for smaller animals. Because horses can see this kind of fencing easily due to its height, you can effectively reduce sudden stops, shocks, and resulting injuries. So, the best of both worlds!

Post and rail fencing can last for decades if you use the right materials and carry out proper installation. Premium materials and weatherproof fixings are a must, however, particularly if you live in a wetter region. Which, unfortunately, is most of the UK.

Woven Wire and Stock Fencing

As arguably the best farm fencing for livestock, this one is for those who prioritise safety over kerb appeal. It’s versatile and effective for containing flocks and herds of animals, and it holds strong for years when installed correctly with well-anchored straining posts. It also doesn’t need as many posts to install as other types of fencing, and it’s very durable in bad weather. Again, this is super important in the UK!

Usually made of a galvanised steel mesh held under tension between solid wooden posts, stock fencing can be tailored to your requirements. Mesh height and aperture size, for example, may be tighter for sheep and lambs, or wider for cattle. Flexible in more ways than one, stock fencing can be installed around curved boundaries and awkward angles, and you can add barbed or electric wire along the top as a climbing deterrent. 

With woven wire and stock fencing, experts recommend high-tensile wire installed over mild steel as it stays taught for longer. 

Barbed Wire

Barbed wire is often strung between timber posts or used with stock fencing as an extra deterrent. It isn’t animal-friendly, but barbed wire is popular in traditional farms and those that farm cattle. It’s not hard to see why, either, since it’s quick and cheap to install, and a powerful physical and psychological barrier. 

Barbed wire is unsuitable for horses, however, because it can cause injury, and any animal you keep can get caught in barbed wire and panic. That’s why many argue that it shouldn’t be used as a main form of fencing, and why it’s losing popularity. Instead, critics would prefer it to be used as a top strand or additional cautionary measure, rather than a primary barrier. 

Proper installation is an absolute necessity for barbed wire fences, with the correct tension and height required to prevent trapped horns or legs. While it was commonplace in the past, it’s not the best fencing for farm requirements in the modern day, and is frowned upon as a core fencing option. 

Electric Fencing

If you carry out rotational grazing and need more flexibility, electric is probably the best type of farm fence available. It’s reliable and cost-effective, which is always a nice bonus, and it’s widely used for the likes of cattle, pigs, and crop protection. 

Unlike others on this list (we’re looking at you, barbed wire), electric fencing isn’t about brute strength. Instead, it conditions animals through short, harmless electric pulses that discourage them from touching or pushing it. Animals learn from their mistakes over time and avoid the fence altogether, even though they look lightweight and easily trampled.

When it comes to electric fencing, you generally have three configuration options:

• Permanent, which comprises a high-tensile wire that is fixed to timber posts.

• Semi-permanent, which uses poly-wire on metal or fibreglass rods.

• Portable, which utilises reel-out systems and is mostly used for paddocks.

Affordable to install and easy to move, electric fencing is very effective if installed correctly. It can also be used with other fence options, with a single electric wire inside a post and rail fence, for example, which can prevent horse bites or cattle leaning.

However, it’s worth noting that electric fences need an energiser and regular maintenance. An energiser can be battery-powered, solar-powered, or mains-powered, and maintenance checks are often required after storms. 

Deer Fencing and Tall Mesh Barriers

From deer to rabbits, foxes, and more, deer fencing and tall mesh barriers are usually made from a heavy-duty steel mesh and stand up to 2.4m tall. This is enough to prevent jumping and strong enough to withstand impact. As a result, this is the best fencing for farmland that borders a nature reserve or if you need to keep wildlife off your land.

Again, proper installation is crucial as posts must be sunk deeply enough and braced to be as robust as possible. The base should also sit low enough, or be buried, to prevent smaller animals from crawling beneath it.

As well as protecting your farm from wildlife, this type of fencing protects:

• Tree nurseries

• Rewilding projects

• Soft fruit growers

• Your livestock, including any deer that you may be farming.

It’s more expensive than most options on the list, but it pays for itself quickly in the protection it offers your farm, particularly if you’re located near wildlife areas. 

Considerations for Large Acreage Farms

Of course, the best fencing for large acreage farms won’t be the same as for a small farm. Costs, access logistics, repair time, and animal management all fluctuate depending on the scale of your agricultural space.

Because of this, many larger farms in the UK combine different fencing systems for the best results. An example combination would be post and rail fences near roads or public-facing areas, with stock wire for internal fields, and electric fences for enclosures that move for rotational grazing.

High-tensile wire and pressure-treated posts also go a long way to providing adequate security on large-acreage farms. This is largely because they’re more resistant to the Great British weather and can make your budgets go further with fewer repairs needed.

Don’t Forget About Agricultural Fencing Accessories

From posts to mesh, rails, and more, it’s easy to get caught up in these core aspects of a farm fence and forget about the smaller stuff that makes all the difference. We’re talking the likes of staples, clips, gate fixings, and straining wires, as well as tensioners and energiser batteries, depending on the kinds of fences you’re installing. 

If you cut corners and go for cheap options in the farm fence sundries department, you’re more likely to experience failures quickly. Why? These sundries and accessories are what keep fences together, which is pretty important! 

All in all, the best farm fence will be the one most suited to your agricultural land and requirements. The key is ensuring installation is carried out professionally, with only the best materials used. You’ll also need to plan for access and adaptability, factoring in how you operate before making a decision.

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