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ONCE THE NEW YEAR arrives we all know we can expect some severe winter weather. So now is the time to make sure that all your fencing is up to the mark.

Good fences make good neighbours--they keep livestock safe and where they need to be. Damaged or poorly maintained fences are nothing but trouble. So check fence posts for frost heave, breaks and other damage; stabilise them now to avoid any 3am calls about livestock at large. Make the time to walk your

entire fence line and look for down wire, grounded-out areas, weed overgrowth, troublesome tree limbs and other potential problems. If you post your property against trespassing or poaching, make sure these signs are properly positioned and clearly visible.

You may well find that you need to replace fence posts, panels, wire and chainlink in some areas. Check you have supplies of fencing accessories to hand – or alternatively get a good reliable contractor to check

over your fencing and gates and put right any problems before winter gets under way.

‘ check fence posts for frost heave, breaks and other damage; stabilise them now to avoid any 3am calls about livestock at large’

ELECTRIC FENCING

Electric fencing provides an alternative to standard wooden board fencing to contain your animals. While electric animal fences are relatively easy to maintain – no need to check for loose boards or dangerous nails sticking out, and no annual painting required – some basic maintenance is still necessary to keep them functioning effectively, particularly in preparation for the winter season which is the time when electric fences often experience problems.