Over the past 4 years we have collected a great deal of portable electric fencing. We use it to keep our animals in, keep predators out, and to section off pastures for our dwarf milk goats, Embden Geese, and American Guinea Hogs to graze. This fencing is lightweight, but sturdy, and extremely easy for two people (old people, FYI) to move, allowing for multiple configurations and quick and easy changes. This pos-neg type of fencing works great in our sandy, dry Florida soil.
The electric fencing that we use comes from Premier 1 Supplies. We have three of Premier’s SpeedRite Energizers. These energizers have an indicator for the battery charge, they have multiple cycles such as day and night, fast and slow pulse, etc., to conserve energy when possible. They also work on both 12v DC, as well as AC. We are much happier with these than with any other energizer we have tried.
Using the electric fence, we have successfully subdivided a 2.5 acre portion of our farm into 7 pastures. While six of the pastures rest and regrow with both annual and perennial grasses, we turn the animals to pasture each day in the 7th. When the grass has been “mowed” sufficiently we close off that pasture to regrow, and open the next for grazing. Some people say that goats uproot the grasses, but we have not had that experience. Our milk goats are very polite landscapers!
We use brown top millet in the summer with annual clovers, and winter rye when the weather turns colder. The rotational grazing system works well and has gone a long way toward healing and rebuilding the very, very sandy soil here in West Central Florida.
Read more about our soil-building experiences here.
Download the Premier 1 article:
How To Use Electric Netting for Rotational Grazing
Click the banner on the right to visit the Premier 1 website. But, wait…before you go, fill out the email list form below and get lots of our free downloads, gift certificates, and other goodies!
Happy Homesteading,
T.
Please join our email list to receive our free downloads and register for gift certificates, etc. Fill out and submit the form below. Be sure to include an active email address.
