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Information sheets   |   Elsenburg infopaks   |   Mechanisation: 6

Wire fences Afrikaans | Xhosa

Click to enlarge!		 The minimum requirements for inner fences for various kinds of livestock are as follows:

Wire fences for large stock

  • A minimum height of 1200 mm
  • The number of fence wires varies from 5 to 8.

Click to enlarge!		 Wire fences for small stock

a) Sheep only

  • A minimum height of 900 mm
  • The number of fence wires varies from 5 to 7.

b) Mixed small stock (sheep and angora goats)

  • A minimum height of 1050 mm
  • The number of fence wires varies from 7 to 9.

Click to enlarge!		 Wire fences for mixed large and small stock
  • A minimum height of 1200 mm
  • The number of fence wires varies from 6 to 10.

Any combination of smooth wire and barbed wire can be used for large stock, small stock or mixed large and small stock.

Click to enlarge!		 Game-proof fences

For this purpose game is divided into the following three groups:

  • Group 1 includes kudu, eland, impala, waterbuck and buffalo. This group requires a fence 2,4 m high with 21 fence wires.
  • Group 2 includes gemsbuck, red hartebeest, wildebeest, sable and zebra. This group requires a fence 1,8 m high with 16 fence wires.
  • Group 3 includes blesbok, bontebok, springbok, grey rhebok, mountain reedbuck and other smaller game species. This group requires a fence 1,4 m high with 13 fence wires.

Wire netting in a game fence must be 1200 mm wide and must be anchored to the ground.

Click to enlarge!		 Wire netting for separating inner camps

Let the following example serve to illustrate. A fence of 1200 mm requires the following: wire netting 900 mm wide; 3 fence wires to keep the wire netting in position; 2 fence wires above the wire netting; 2 fence wires above the wire netting if it is anchored to the ground.

Click to enlarge!		 Jackal fences

These fences need to be a minimum height of 1350 mm, and the minimum height above the ground of the top edge of the wire netting is 750 mm. The wire netting must be attached to the bottom wire. A row of stones can be put beneath the bottom wire to prevent this wire and the wire netting from lying on the ground where it could rust.

The width of the wire netting should preferably be 1200 mm, although 900 mm is also acceptable. Using a width of 1200 mm, 4 fence wires are needed to keep the wire netting in position, with 3 fence wires above the wire netting. The fence wires above the wire netting should preferably be of barbed wire. The maximum spacing of the fence wires above the wire netting is 100 mm. However, a spacing of 75 mm is preferable.

Click to enlarge!		 Pre-woven fences

Specifications for straining and fence posts are the same as for wire fences. Droppers are not necessary. The distance between fence posts in a livestock fence is 16 m and in a game-proof fence 10 m. Fence wires for keeping the woven fence in position is not necessary. Livestock-proof pre-woven fences may be used as livestock fences. However, this type of fence is not jackal-proof.

Click to enlarge!		 Fencing materials

a) Straining posts, corner posts and gateposts

  • The minimum depths at which straining posts, corner posts and gateposts should be planted are available in the trade. In a livestock fence a stage may never be more than 500 m in length, and in a game fence no more than 300 m. All gateposts must be properly anchored. Straining posts must be anchored at least to the one side, and fence wires must be wound around the straining post at least twice and then fastened.
  • Wooden posts: Wooden posts must bear the mark of the SABS, and be 120 mm in diameter at the small end. 
  • Iron posts: In the case of rail sections, posts must have a mass of at least 10 kg/m. In the case of pipes it must not be less that 100 mm in diameter, with walls of no less than 3,65 mm, with a steel plate base of 300 mm x 300 mm x 3 mm, and with a metal cap on top. However, it can also be filled with concrete, in which case the metal cap is not required.

b) Fence posts

  • The minimum depths at which fence posts should be planted are available in the trade. In a livestock fence fence posts may not be more than 20 m apart, and in a game fence not more than 15 m apart.
  • Wooden fence posts: For use in a livestock fence, the diameter of a wooden fence post should be at least 70 mm at the small end. However, 75 mm to 100 mm is recommended. The diameter for a wooden fence post used in a game fence should be at least 75 mm at the small end, but 100 mm is recommended.
  • Iron fence posts: I- or Y-section iron fence posts with a mass of 3 kg or 2,5 kg/m respectively are recommended. For Y-section poles in a game fence, every fifth pole must be supported by means of a pipe post with a 50 mm diameter.
  • Aluminium alloy fence posts: The diameter of a post must not be less than 70 mm.

c) Droppers

  • The length of droppers must correspond with the height of the fence. A minimum of 4 droppers between fence posts is required. For a livestock fence the maximum spacing is 4 m and for a game fence 3 m.
  • Wooden droppers: Treated droppers bearing the SABS mark are recommended. The diameter at the small end should be at least 30 mm.
  • Iron droppers: Ridgeback or CG-type iron droppers are recommended. In a game fence two iron droppers or two wooden droppers can be used as one dropper by placing the one above the other, and attaching both to the middle wire or wires where they overlap.
  • Galvanised wire droppers: The recommended application is a double twisted galvanised wire dropper of 4 mm or 3,15 mm with a maximum spacing of 4 m. As an alternative, single strands of the same material can be used, placed not more than 2 m from each other.
  • Aluminium alloy wire droppers: A double twisted wire dropper of 4,5 mm or 4,06 mm or 3,15 mm at a maximum spacing of 4 m is recommended.

d) Binding wire

  • Galvanised soft wire with a thickness of at least 1,6 mm is recommended.

e) Anchor wire

  • Galvanised soft steel wire with a minimum diameter of 3,15 mm or aluminium alloy wire with a minimum diameter of 3,1 mm is recommended.

f) Galvanised wire netting

  • The mesh in the wire netting must be 75 mm to 90 mm and the diameter of the wire must not be less than 1,8 mm.

g) Fence wires

  • Fence wires may be either barbed wire or smooth wire or a combination of barbed and smooth wire. The top and bottom fence wires in a game fence must be high-tension wires with a minimum diameter of 2,24 mm or an oval cross section of 2 mm x 2,6 mm.
  • For game fences fence wires are spaced throughout at 114 mm from the ground surface. For jackal fences the spacing above the wire netting is as follows: 75 mm for wire netting up to a height of 750 mm to 1050 mm; 75 mm to 100 mm for wire netting higher than 1050 mm.

A Erasmus
ELSENBURG / GRAAFF-REINET soil conservation