Goats and electric fence

[MDres]

We recently put a deposit down on 3 Boer wethers, and will bring them home on April 6th at 12 weeks old. My property is set up for horses and cattle, and does not currently have "goat proof" fencing. The breeder advised me that since these are destined to be 4-H Market Goat projects, that ideally, I want them somewhat confined and not on acres of pasture. Since this is our first year with goats as a project, we DEFINITELY want to keep it CHEAP, and do not want any additional expenses beyond feed and show collars. I have clippers, and am borrowing a stand.

So, back to fencing - I have 2 options on hand:

A.) Wrap my horse's 70' round pen with leftover 4' tall woven wire no-climb fencing.

B.) Build a new electric fence enclosure for the goats using wood end posts and step-in line posts. I have everything I need - posts, wire, insulators, charger... My dilemma is that the wires will be spaced dependent on the step-in posts built in insulators - so spaced like this: http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/step-in-poly-fence-post-48-in?cm_vc=-10005
Is that enough to keep them in? ***Forgot to mention*** I also have miles of GOOD 1 1/2" tape that carries a huge shock with the charger. I can alternate that tape with the galvanized smooth wire if needed for a more "visual" barrier and a more challenging barrier to them sticking their heads thru. Also, I have a well trained/experienced Anatolian, so predators are not a concern. She was raised with Dorper Sheep until a year old before coming to my horses and cattle, so I am assuming she will accept the goats without issue.

 

[M.L. McKnight]

You can use an electric fence netting if you want which comes with posts already part of its construction.

I have used the little plastic white Tractor Supply posts and those work just fine. My one suggestion is that you alternate the direction your step in posts are facing, this makes a slight zig-zag but keeps the wire tighter.

Either option will keep your goats in once they get that first initial zap. When dealing with Boer goats, I strongly suggest that you look at their sire and dam's legs. I know that you don't do much with the legs but I have known some breeders to focus more on overall body size and neglect those four little things that were made to hold that body up! Meaning I have seen some tremendous looking goats with toothpick legs.
I'd also recommend that you stay on top of your hoof trimming, a Boer will get hoof rot pretty easily. However if you keep their area dry you will probably do just fine if you are purchasing from a breeder with good stock.

 

[MDres]

Thanks for the advice!

The breeder has her pastures cross fenced with the electric netting, and really likes it. I won't be purchasing any at this time, though, because it kinda defeats my goal of being cheap this year. I can't find any of it for less than $200 including shipping, and I can't justify the cost.

Good to know that you have successfully used the same white TSC posts. Fence tension won't be a problem for me, thankfully, since all my corner posts will be wood posts set in concrete. I imagine the goats pen will only measure 40' x 100' or thereabouts, so it won't be very big. I have all my horse and cattle pastures cross fenced with the step in posts and electric tape - I really love using them, but want to make sure they are appropriate for containing goats.

The goats will be auctioned off at the end of either the State Fair, or one of the 3 county fairs we will be competing at. It will depend on how they place as to where/when they are sold. We have no intentions of keeping them over the winter. If things go well with the project this summer and next summer, then we *might* consider adding a pregnant doe to give birth in 2016.

The foot rot is something new to me, and hopefully I won't have too much of an issue with it, but all bets are off if we have a wet spring/summer like this past winter!

The breeder has been kicking-butt all over the state of Maryland with her 4-H show goats for the past 11 years, so I think we've bought some good quality stock. Then again, I know zero about goat conformation at this point, so who knows! But I really can't see this young lady selling inferior stock to a fellow 4-Her.