Rural fencing is installed to fence in livestock, prevent access to a property, mark a boundary or all three. A rural fence can be as small as a corral or can encompass the area of a huge rural property. Unlike residential fencing, which is often largely aesthetic, rural fencing must serve its purpose first. Aesthetics come into the picture secondarily and usually on smaller fences only.


© Ironbark Rural Fencing

Types of Rural Fences

Today, rural fences are divided into two broad categories, conventional and electric fencing. Conventional fencing can be of several types, including:

• Plain wire
• Barbed wire
• Woven wire
• Post and rail

The appropriate type of fencing depends on the livestock or other traffic the landowner wants to keep within or outside of the fence boundary. Post and rail fencing, for example, is a popular and effective choice for fencing horses, but is not usually appropriate for a very large property.

When choosing rural fencing, you need to keep a number of things in mind:

• The animals you want to contain or keep out of your property.
• Whether you are erecting a boundary or internal fence.
• Topography may be a factor.

Some animals, such as cattle, can put a tremendous amount of force against a fence. Electric fences can be an effective deterrent, both because the shock causes cattle to back off quickly and they avoid the fence after repeated shocks. Smaller animals are often best kept in or out using woven wire, barbed wire or a combination of materials.

Installing a Rural Fence

Any type of rural fence has to be installed correctly if it is going to do its job and not require constant maintenance. The three main components of any fence include:

1. Posts,
2. Rails and
3. Supports

Posts can be made of timber, concrete or steel. Treated pine is a popular material, but may not be appropriate in fire-prone areas. End posts often require exta lateral support, while intermediate posts serve an important function as support for the railing system, whether wire or timber.

Other important parts of a rural fence include strainers, which are designed to transfer strain (or tension) from the wires to the ground, and droppers, which help maintain wire spacing and also act as strainers.

To the casual eye, a rural fence is a simple construction. The trained eye knows why it is built the way it is and what's hidden from the eye. Only buy your fencing materials from a local supplier who specialises in rural fencing. They can help you select the right fencing for your location and needs. Also consider getting an experienced rural fencing installer to install or help you install your fencing. Their services may make the difference between a rural fence you can rely on and a fence that fails to do its job.