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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 .