The electric fence has been used for more than a hundred years. Ranchers began using electric fencing as a way to keep cattle inside and prevent them from being injured by the fence material. Barbed wire was the most widely used livestock fence before the invention of electric fencing, and barbed wire could be dangerous to animals.
The electric fence in wide use today was first created in New Zealand by inventor William Gallagher. In rural settings, the use of electric fences will keep animals within the perimeters of a pasture, but the signals that operate the fences can also disrupt radio stations, Internet signals, and television reception. When interference like this is noticed, there is usually a problem with the fence within a mile of the intercept problems. When the fence is examined somewhere within a mile, there will be a part of the fence that has an arc or spark in the hardware.
Regular fence maintenance can prevent short circuits that cause interruptions in radio reception, television reception, and internet service speeds. Insulators should be checked frequently and replaced when damaged, and all vegetation growing near the fence should be trimmed so it doesn’t touch the fence and cause a short circuit.
Electric fencing is just as good at keeping things out of an area as it is at keeping things in an area. Cattle and horses are often contained by the use of this type of fencing, but these animals are also kept safer because the fences keep predators out.
Many people who raise animals that are often attacked by predators use electric fences to keep their animals safe. This includes chicken farmers, rabbit farmers, and even the breeding and calving areas for all farm animals.
This type of fencing can be set up outside of a child’s fenced play area to prevent wildlife and nuisance animals from entering the area where the child will play. You want to set up a perimeter fence between the electric and the area where the child will play to safeguard the child.
The use of electricity in hidden fences is popular with homeowners who want their perimeter to be clean, yet want their animals to stay inside. Many dog owners use hidden fences to prevent their pets from leaving a certain area. The fence material is buried underground. The animal has a collar that they use to shoot the fence when they get close.
When the animal approaches within a certain distance of the fence perimeter, its collar will trigger an alarm that will prevent the dog from crossing the underground fence. If the dog continues after hearing the alarm, a shock will be delivered through the collar. The animal quickly learns to associate the alarm with the pain of shock and stops when it hears the sound of the alarm.
