Sheep
netting
Sheep netting is the quickest and easiest to put up. If you live near
numerous lifestyle blocks, you may want to create a degree of dog
resistance (and lamb retention) by adding chicken wire to the netting.
Lighter guages of sheep netting can also be split down the middle to
create 450 mm wide lengths to add to the top of the standard 900mm high
fence. This additional height adds to dog resistance without the cost
of using full height deer netting. It also thwarts 'jumpers',
especially nervous 'arapawa' sheep.
Heavier guage sheep netting might be prudent for perimeter fences if
you have reason to keep a 'flighty' individual. A sheep running at full
tilt with neck outstretched can burst through some lighter gauge
nettings.
Straining sheep netting is a bit of a mystery, and while it is possible
to get some wires tight, unless you have the special tool for
straining netting, there are inevitably some wires that are loose.
Learn to live with it, or pay a contractor.
Sheep will put their heads through the netting and lean against it hard
to get at that last little mouthful of grass just out of reach on the
other side of the fence (no matter how fresh the pasture is on their
own side). This tends to slacken the netting a bit.
Either live with it, or herbicide spray the outside perimeter of the
fence so
there is nothing for the sheep to be attracted to.
Temporary fencing
It would be very useful to be able to allow sheep into a fairly narrow
orchard row of more shrubby fruit trees such as citrus - without having
to worry about them stripping the foliage. Using temporary electric
fencing consisting of multiple tapes would not be worth the
hassle.
Recently, a lightweight electric net ('Hot Net', phone 07 867-3091)
has
come on the market. It has 9 electrified horizontals, and
non-electrified verticals. It comes with lightweight push-in posts, and
a 50 metre roll, posts included, is light enough to carry in one hand.
This might turn out to be the answer to the bushy fruit row grazing
problem.
Another product, the 'electranet' is similar, and also portable.
Electranet earths well, even in dry conditions. It is similar to sheep
netting, except made of a polythene fibre with stainless steel
intertwined. The verticals are semi-rigid. It is supplied with 15
insulated push-in posts. The makers claim the standard 50 metre length
can be erected in 10 minutes and taken down in 5 minutes.
It is
available from Holmcroft Orchard (
www.holmcroft.co.nz),
PO Box 72 883, Papakura, Phone 09 2925749, or fax 09 2925049