temporary goat fencing

"A goat wearing a Nofence solar-powered collar which tracks the goat via GPS welded wire netting pricelist , sends SMS alerts to the ... + farmer and can deliver a warning signal and electric shock I was wondering how grazing animals could be kept inside an area without fencing, because I grew up with animals and thought it would have been great if they could have been more free, and had access to graze in places that usually were not possible, because of topology. It was not a clear idea, but the idea started at that stage, says Oscar Hovde Berntsen, founder and inventor of the virtual fencing system Nofence , one of the most interesting ag-tech startups at the World Agri Tech Innovation Summit in London earlier this month and whose\xa0virtual fence system became commercially available this year. Hovde Berntsten grew up with animals and loved that moment when animals were set free. That feeling and the spark of an idea stayed with him, until GPS technology caught up. I couldnt free myself from trying it out, he told me. Farmers can define an area outside where they want their goats to graze, either through the Nofence app or by walking the land. Once the virtual fence is set up, goats wearing the solar powered collar, which looks very close to a typical goat bell, will be alerted at first by vibration and beeping as they approach the boundary. If they keep going, there are three warning zones before a quick electric shock is sent out from the collar for half a second. (According to the Nofence site, the Norwegian animal welfare authorities gave Nofence the green light to start testing its system in autumn 2014). Nofence founder and inventor Oscar Hovde Berntsen among goats wearing the Nofence collar According to the Nofence website, the maximum energy transferred by Nofence is approximately 0.1\xa0joules, but if there is good contact with the animals skin, it will only be around half that (0.05\xa0joules), sends SMS alerts to the ... + farmer and can deliver a warning signal and electric shock I was wondering how grazing animals could be kept inside an area without fencing barbed wire for sale manufacturers , while the collar has GPS tracking. Hovde Berntsten tells me that goats usually learn to stay inside the\xa0virtual fence\xa0after experiencing the warning sounds and shock three to four times, which can take from a few hours to a few days, depending on the size of the herd and area. Its even possible that mother goats will teach their kids about the perimeter, so they never have to encounter it, however this is not the standard. Goats can freely pass back into their pasture without encountering any shock or beeping, the warning signal and electric shock are only encountered if the animal is moving outside of the defined pasture. This also means that other animals can freely enter the pasture, but Hovde Berntsten says that traditional fencing doesnt always keep predators out either, and can even injure animals when they try to flee. One of our customers had a fox attack their goats. All the goats gathered in front of their shelter, and they lost only one goat. If there had been a physical fence, their experience was that they would have lost a lot more animals, from both the fox and fencing, Hovde Berntsten told me. Goats wear Nofence collars, grazing outside in a defined pasture inside a virtual fence. Some of the problems that Nofence could address include saving money and labour on fence building, which can run into the hundreds of thousands (Nofence collars are currently $238 per goat, not including the charger); easily moving animals to new pastures without having to move physical fencing; and giving animals the freedom to graze in rocky or usually inaccessible areas, which previously would have been disregarded for grazing because building a traditional fence wasnt possible. Technically there is no limit to the size of the herd that Nofence can work with, but the Nofence team found that the batteries in the collars required switching out one or two times per season, so it could be too much manual labour switching out batteries for very large herds. All of their research so far is based on using the collars with goats, so\xa0the Nofence team are currently working on their next pilot project to test the system on one thousand five hundred cattle in Norway next year. They also hope to launch in Sweden, because I grew up with animals and thought it would have been great if they could have been more free cheap serrated bar grating , UK and Ireland next year. There seems to be similar products such as Sandiego based Vence and Agersens in Australia, but Nofence\xa0appears\xa0to be the first to reach the market in Europe. We are eager to make this become a tool for the farming industry, that will take grazing animals out of the barn and into the pastures, Hovde Berntsten told me, I think it's a reason that they have legs, they are born to find their food themselves. If the industry moves in that direction, and that we could be a tool for that - I would feel very successful.\\\n", 'By CAITLIN CROWLEY OUTBACK Queensland graziers are on the cusp of unlocking lucrative new markets for sheep and goat meat, after a surge in productivity and confidence thanks to ambitious cluster fencing programs which keep predators out and biodiversity in. Camden Park Stations James Walker described the impact cluster fencing has had in the Longreach area as a revolution, with unintended but fortuitous consequences now revealing unseen opportunities for producers. It would be a once in a century change to production activity out here, Walker said. It would be comparable to going from blade shears to mechanical shearing, whats happened with these cluster fences. Agforce sheep and wool president Mike Pratt tells a similar story from his property 95kms south west of Longreach. Its literally been a game changer, he said. Its reinvigorated Western Queensland I dont want to overcook it, but it really has given people hope. Pratt said it was around 2012 when the regions sheep industry was faced with the decision of whether to abandon small stock completely because of wild dogs and other predators, or fence and fight on. 1080 baiting had run its course, he said. We were losing control, the dogs just kept on coming and we couldnt keep them at bay any longer. When I first became Premier, I sat down with graziers outside Charleville and Longreach and they told me their heartbreaking stories of wild dogs and feral pests killing their livestock, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said. Since then the state government has committed more than $26 million to help communities build cluster fences and control invasive plants and animals. Weve protected sheep, and had access to graze in places that usually were not possible temporary wood fence , brought jobs to the regions and bolstered economic activity in these communities, Palaszczuk said. Close to 24,000kms of fencing has been rolled out thanks to state, local government and private investment, but the full potential of that change is only just starting to be realised. Initially it was put in for wild dogs we havent had one wild dog in our cluster at all since we put it up, James Walker said. Weve connected with three other producers in a cluster, which makes up a large exclusion-fence precinct north east of Longreach. Not only does it increase the lambing percentages here it gives us the confidence to run mixed enterprises in terms of goats and sheep. Weve got one of the largest agricultural bio-security precincts now the biodiversity is extraordinary because we can rotate the animals on our property. Mike Pratt said hed seen bio-diversity improve on his property too, with the ability to better manage grazing pressures, allowing more ground cover to return. You get so many more flora and fauna we get little ground dwelling animals that would have been predated on by foxes and dogs, he said. You can have your own quarantine zone. We dont treat our sheep for lice anymore. Another unexpected result was the ability to radically improve the management of goats, taking them from feral to farmable. Theres an old saying that if you can throw water through a fence, a goat can get through it, Mike Pratt said. Not anymore. Now the males and females can be separated, and instead of harvesting wild goats intermittently, animals can be sent for processing at the optimum time. That ability now is seeing massive gains in terms of productivity of goats, James Walker said. Its just exploded. Walker said animals which were going for $180 could fetch $360 and that increased profitability is opening up exciting opportunities. We can really penetrate the value chains we can really start to put production systems together to start branding what we produce out here. The economic benefits flowing through to these outback communities are undeniable, particularly given the high labour costs involved in the merino sheep industry. When we shear it costs around $9 a sheep all that money goes back into the community in wages, Mike Pratt said. James Walker said hed seen land prices around Longreach increase, alongside agistment fees, and its being driven by confidence. People are paying for grass and they know their livestock will stay there and there wont be predation they pay a premium for that. He said the small stock game is also attracting interest from large corporates and investment funds, which never looked twice at sheep or goats before. Walker also sees new opportunities to market sheep and goat meat to the thousands of Aussie tourists who fall in love with the bush while visiting the region annually, surveying guests who stopped in at Camden Park Station last year. We surveyed every tourist that came through and had a meal here, to ask them if they enjoyed the meat and if they would be interested to source the meat when they arrived back home, Walker said. 95 percent of respondents said they would they fell in love with the providence. State agriculture minister Mark Furner said there was a tremendous opportunity in the decade ahead for Queenslands sheep and goat meat industries, as the sector rapidly scaled up. Under our Sheep and Goat Meat Processing Strategy, we are striving to double the value of sheep and goat production to $150 million per year and create over 100 new jobs, Furner said. This week the state government launched $4 million dollars in grants to be spent over the next two years, to leverage the benefits of its cluster fencing programs. The Rural Agricultural Development grants of up to $200,000 per business will help sheep and goat enterprises, businesses along the supply chain, and businesses that use sheep and goat-derived materials in their products or activities, the Premier said. We want businesses to grow and diversify as the industry grows. These grants can help businesses with that by developing new products, implementing new technologies, upgrading equipment or training. With new business opportunities around the corner and green grass stretching towards the horizon thanks to a wet summer, the future is looking bright for this corner of country Queensland. Its just amazing its miraculous, Mike Pratt said. You forget how good it can be its phenomenal the grass thats grown. Honestly, I cant think of anything to complain about.\n', 'Fencing is probably more important and more difficult with goats than with any other domestic animal. One professional fence builder said his way of testing a fence for goats is to throw a bucket of water at it. If the water can go through, so can a goat. Goats will jump over, crawl under, squeeze through, stand on, lean against, and circumvent any boundary that is not strictly goatproof. Even if it is goatproof, theyll spend time trying to figure out how to make it fail. Fencing is important not only to keep goats in, but also to keep stray dogs and other predators\xa0out. With goats, a little fencing goes a long way. In most cases, if you have only a couple of goats, you wont want to think in terms of pasturing to any great extent. Goats wont make good use of the usual pasture plants, grasses, and clovers. They prefer browse: trees, shrubs, and brush. Goats that are fed at the barn will probably ignore even the finest pasture, although theyd be delighted to get at your prize roses, specimen evergreens, and fruit trees. For many people, protecting valuable plants like these is the main reason for good fences! Goats also like to jump on cars and other machinery, so make sure vehicles and goats are kept\xa0apart. Well talk more about pastures and pasture fencing later. For now, lets focus on the exercise yard. A small, dry, sunny yard adjacent to the barn is all you need, ordinarily, and youll probably want one of these even if you pasture your animals. The exercise yard fence will take more punishment than the average pasture fence, because the goat confined to the smaller space will have more time and opportunity to investigate and beat on it. The cost per running foot will be higher in the yard, but the amount of fencing used is much\xa0less. Good fencing is obviously a necessity for goats. And while fences do require an investment, the newer types make it much easier and more economical to allow goats access to larger yards or pastures. First, well discuss the fences to avoid, followed by the ideal types and some practical alternatives. For various reasons, these fences are not recommended. This type, also known as field fencing, is less expensive but has drawbacks. If your goats have horns, theyll put their heads through the fence and then be unable to get free. Worse, theyll stand on the wire, or lean against it, until it sags to the ground and they can nonchalantly walk over it. Even with close spacing of posts and proper stretching a crucial part of building this type of fence woven wire will soon sag from the weight of goats standing against it and will look unsightly and eventually be useless. However, woven-wire fencing can be useful when combined with electrical fencing. For many people, the picturesque board or rail fence comes to mind first, but it wont work for goats unless its all but solid. They can slip through openings you wouldnt believe. Dont take the chance. Its awfully ugly stuff around tender-skinned, well-uddered goats. And it doesnt impress them anyway. Some people use barbed wire, often because they feel it deters predators. Far more would suggest getting rid of it. Another nasty trap for goats. With a picket-style fence, theres a very real danger that a goat will stand against the fence with her front feet, slip, and impale her neck on a picket or get it caught between\xa0two. Here are better, safer options that\xa0work. This is the ideal goat fence for a small place. However, like most ideals, it may simply not fit the budget. A very good and somewhat less expensive alternative to chain-link is stock fencing, often called hog or stock panels. It is made of welded steel rods in 16-foot-long panels of 3-foot or 5-foot heights. The ideal is 13-wire combination fence sections that are 5 feet high and have narrower spacing at the bottom than at the top. They do a better job than the standard livestock panel at keeping small kids inside. Attach stock fencing to regular steel or wooden fence posts. They can be connected to each other with small cable clamps, or make temporary pens by connecting them together with electrical zip ties that can be cut loose quickly when you are finished with them. Regular stock fencing has one problem: horned goats can get their heads trapped between the rods of the wider openings. A newer and better version has smaller spaces (about 4 inches) between the rods. This makes it more expensive, but its much safer for your goats. This type of fencing was designed for sheep, and unfortunately, it isnt available everywhere. This should be used much more than it usually is for goats. They must be trained to respect it, but once they know what happens when they touch it, its possible to fence even large areas at low cost. Train the goats in a small area. Until they get zapped once or twice, theyll be trying to crawl under, jump over, and just plain bust right through. Unlike other livestock, a goat will jump forward when it gets a shock. Stand by during the training process to toss the goat back in the pen for another training session. With a good hard shock supplied by a low-impedance New Zealandstyle charger, or fencer, it usually takes only one reminder for a goat to learn which side of the fence is home. Do not assume they will quit looking for ways to escape, though. They have an uncanny sixth sense about electricity and will test the fence again when they think the power is out. Most likely, the older does will send a kid to test the fence while they stand back and watch. You might want to use sturdier (and more expensive) fences for smaller yards, but electric fences are ideal for larger areas such as pastures. You can also use electric fencing in tandem with woven-wire, or field, fencing. Place a strand of electrified wire just inside the woven wire, at about goat-nose height. This combination makes a very good goat barrier: the electric fence keeps the goats from reaching the field fencing, and the field fencing offers more security than the hot wire alone. A fencing system that has become widely popular was developed in New Zealand for managed intensive grazing. Fences can be charged with a 12-volt battery and energizer, a plug-in energizer, or a solar-powered energizer. The most important thing is that the system is very high voltage 5,000 to 7,000 volts for a fraction of a second. It wont do serious damage to the goat or predator, but it leaves a lasting impression. The fence itself is usually high-tensile wire supported by wood corner posts and fiberglass spacers. The charger is a little pricey, but the fence is less expensive per foot than any other option suitable for goats. One option for creating a temporary fence is plastic step-in fence posts, a reel of polywire (a thin plastic cord braided through with seven or nine strands of wire), and a solar charger. Some companies also make an electrified woven netting for temporary fences. Goats can be turned into an area to browse without your having to build a permanent fence. Be sure to train your goats to this type of fence, and watch carefully for the first few days to be sure nobody gets snagged in the soft netting. Dairy Goat Housing Floor Plans Excerpted from Storeys Guide to Raising Dairy Goats , by Jerome D. Belanger, photography by: essphotographer/iStockphoto.com, My Litl Eye/Alamy Stock Photo, mackoflower/123RF, Philip Game/Alamy Stock Photo, used with permission from Storey Publishing, 2017. Buy this book in our store : Storeys Guide to Raising Dairy Goats\n', 'Electric fencing can be installed with basic hand tools and no prior fencing experience. And by adding a solar-powered fence energizer, youll make installation even simpler by eliminating the need for any grid connection. Not only that, but using a fence energizer powered by a solar-charged battery will also offer greater flexibility in placement on your property, allowing you to put the unit where needed without any consideration for a grid connection. You wont have to worry about wayward animals if the utility grid goes down. You can even easily add it to, and use it in conjunction with, existing wood or metal fencing. All in all, solar-powered fencing may provide an attractive solution when compared with trying to install a fence energizer that runs on 120-volt alternating current (AC), especially for remote or very large fencing systems that suffer from a lack of utility outlets near the fence line. Before getting too much into the advantages of solar over conventional grid electricity, lets review some electric fencing basics. The fencing type you choose, its height, strength, materials, and wire spacing will all depend entirely on what youre trying to keep in or out. A properly installed electric fence wont cause serious harm to animals (or people!) that happen to come in contact with the energized wires. While most electric fencing consists of only a few bare wires strung between some lightweight insulators, its an animals learned fear of the fence not the strength of the wire that keeps the animal contained. Most animals that make initial contact with an electric fence will immediately back up. However, if the energized wires are spaced too far apart, an animal may be able to extend its head through to the other side before touching an energized wire. Feeling the sting further back on its neck, the startled animal may bolt straight through instead of backing up, no doubt dragging your new fence behind it! For this reason, you must use the correct wire spacing and fence design for the animals youre trying to contain. Some electric fencing systems use wires that are woven into a brightly colored flat tape or rope. This type of electric fencing material makes it easier for animals to recognize what happens when they get too near and thus remember to steer clear. Larger animals, such as horses and cattle, may be more manageable when using wider electric fencing tape because its easier for them to see than bare wire. One of the newest forms of electric fencing is electrified netting. Woven into this non-metallic netting are tiny electrically interconnected metal strands. This fencing material works to contain smaller animals goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and even cats and dogs better than wider-spaced electric fence wire. Electric fencing requires an energizer to deliver pulsed charges to the conductor, usually at or less than one high-voltage pulse per second. Comparing energizers can be confusing because few rating standards are used in their marketing. Some units list their output in volts, while others use joules (the international unit of energy measurement). Some brands advertise how many acres of fencing their unit can energize, while others publicize their power output in miles of fencing. The best measurement of an electric fence energizer is how many joules of energy it delivers per pulse. A joule equals 1 watt-second of power output, or, more precisely, the amount of work required to generate 1 watt of power for 1 second. The largest off-the-shelf fence energizer I found locally had a rating of 6 joules and was advertised to energize up to 100 miles of fence wire. If this unit failed, all 100 miles of fence wire would instantly become useless. However, if you use multiple smaller energizers, any single failure would mean only one of the fenced areas would become non-energized. Remember that these ratings apply to the total length of wire used, not necessarily the length of the fence. So a 6-joule energizer that can energize 100 miles of fence wire would provide enough power for a 5-wire fence thats 20 miles long (or a 4-wire fence thats 25 miles long, and so on). A solar-powered energizer with an output of 0.5 to 1 joule should easily meet the needs of most small-scale homesteaders, providing enough power to energize miles of fence wire or enclose up to 50 acres of pasture. Most self-contained solar energizers consist of a weatherproof enclosure containing a maintenance-free battery, with a small solar panel attached to the top on an adjustable mounting. Solar energizers with a larger capacity may require a bigger solar panel and battery, mounted separately from the energizer. The flexibility of the separate battery and solar panel will be especially useful if you need to reposition the solar panel away from the shade of nearby trees or would like to mount the panel on a raised pole. Fence energizers powered by an external 12-volt battery typically cost half the price of energizers with a smaller built-in battery and solar panel. This price savings can help offset the added cost of buying a separate external battery, solar charge controller, and solar panel. Not only does this approach allow the use of a wider selection of solar panels, but the larger battery provides weeks of stand-alone operation during extended periods of low sunlight. More expensive solar energizers may offer optional features, such as a digital display or meter, selective output levels, system trouble alarms, increased lightning protection, and a lower output at night to save battery charge. Large solar energizers are designed to be mounted on a wooden post, and only require connecting a jumper wire to the fence and a ground rod. Smaller, self-contained solar energizers intended for temporary electric fencing applications are designed to be placed directly on the ground and dont require a fixed mounting. A solar fence energizer has a low power drain on the battery because the output power is pulsed on and off, rather than remaining continuously energized. This cycling allows time for the power circuits to increase the 12-volt battery voltage to more than 5,000 volts, which is then discharged in short pulses. In addition, this pulsing effect provides more shock value to an animal in the form of multiple stings, rather than a single continuous discharge. The three disadvantages of using a solar-powered electric fence energizer include the need to locate the solar panel where it will receive lots of sun; the higher cost; and the occasional replacement of the battery. However, high-quality, sealed absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries and gel-cell batteries will power an energizer for four or more years before replacement is necessary. If youre already using a grid-connected energizer, converting to solar power will be very easy. It will require replacing your 120-volt AC energizer with a self-contained solar energizer with its own battery and solar panel. Unlike your existing grid-connected energizer, your solar energizer can be located almost anywhere with ample sun. After placing or mounting the solar energizer, position the solar panel for maximum performance typically with the panels face oriented either due south or southwest. A tilt angle equal to the latitude of your location will provide the best overall year-round performance for most homesteads. This will be in the 30- to 40-degree range for the southern half of the United States, and the 40- to 50-degree range for the northern half. The battery-charging output of any solar panel will be substantially reduced by the shadow cast by even a small branch onto a very small part of the panel. While the solar panel will most likely be in total shade during the very early morning and late afternoon hours (when the sun is lower on the horizon and shadows are long), you should try your best to avoid any shading between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is highest in the sky. If you plan to assemble your own custom system, make sure your fence energizer is designed for the voltage of the external battery you want to use. A sealed recreational vehicle (RV) or marine battery will provide many more days of operation during long periods of cloudy weather than a model with a smaller internal battery. Maintenance-free deep-cycle batteries are designed for continuous charge and discharge cycling. Car batteries have much thinner plates to reduce weight and arent designed for this constant cycling. I prefer using either a sealed AGM or gel-cell battery instead of a wet-cell battery. Because theyre totally sealed, they can be mounted in any position, and theres no danger of an animal tipping them over and spilling liquid acid. A BCI Group No. 22NF sealed battery that has a 55-amp-hour capacity is more than adequate for energizing miles of electric fencing and can store extra power for locations that experience weeks of cloudy weather. This is a significantly longer operating period than is possible with the 6- to 10-amp-hour internal battery typically included with most packaged solar energizers. When selecting a solar panel to keep your energizer battery charged, make sure its rated for 12-volt charging. Typically, the nameplate will list a 21-volt DC open-circuit voltage and a 17-volt charging voltage. A solar panel rated at 6 to 10 watts should be able to maintain the battery for an energizer rated at 0.3 to 0.5 joule, while a solar panel rated at 12 to 20 watts should be able to maintain the battery for an energizer rated at 1 to 2 joules. Which you choose will ultimately depend on the size of your fenced area, your climate conditions, and your latitude. Anytime an animal comes in contact with an energized fence wire, theyre completing an electrical circuit. Unfortunately, one of the most neglected areas of electric fence installation is properly grounding the system. The ground rod is typically a copper-clad steel rod driven into the earth next to the energizer. Grounding is a major part of the electrical path from the animal back to the energizer, and must be installed correctly, otherwise this electrical circuit wont be complete. Fenced areas that stay slightly damp year-round may only require one ground rod, while very dry climates may require multiple ground rods (typically spaced at least 10 feet apart) to achieve adequate ground contact. These ground rods are the same as those used for grounding a homes electrical service and should be driven 6 to 8 feet into the earth. After youve installed the fence, ground rods, and solar-powered fence energizer, and properly positioned the solar panel, its time to test. This task will be best performed using a high-voltage fence tester. These typically cost less than $10 cheap insurance for keeping your valuable animals from heading to town. As you walk along the fence line, check the output of each wire and note any section of wire thats not energized or that has a low voltage level. If any objects, tree branches, or tall weeds come in contact with an electrified fence, they can drain off voltage and significantly lower the shock value, or even short all the voltage to ground. Walk your fence line regularly and keep all weeds and tall grass at least 5 feet away from either side of the fencing. Youll also want to check around the solar panel to make sure that weeds or bushes havent grown tall enough to shade any part of it. As with any electrically energized equipment, be sure to follow the manufacturers installation and safety instructions, and never rely totally on any electric fence to keep animals away from cliffs, highways, or deep bodies of water. You should still use traditional metal or wood fencing in conjunction with electric fencing for property boundaries, and use electric for internal division of pastures, gardens, and temporary grazing areas. You can even attach new solar-powered electric fencing to existing wood or metal fencing using the proper insulators. With a reasonable level of maintenance, your solar-powered fencing system should provide many years of trouble-free performance.\n', 'Electric fencing can be installed with basic hand tools and no prior fencing experience. And by adding a solar-powered fence energizer, youll make installation even simpler by eliminating the need for any grid connection. Not only that, but using a fence energizer powered by a solar-charged battery will also offer greater flexibility in placement on your property, allowing you to put the unit where needed without any consideration for a grid connection. You wont have to worry about wayward animals if the utility grid goes down. You can even easily add it to, and use it in conjunction with, existing wood or metal fencing. All in all, solar-powered fencing may provide an attractive solution when compared with trying to install a fence energizer that runs on 120-volt alternating current (AC), especially for remote or very large fencing systems that suffer from a lack of utility outlets near the fence line. Before getting too much into the advantages of solar over conventional grid electricity, lets review some electric fencing basics. The fencing type you choose, its height, strength, materials, and wire spacing will all depend entirely on what youre trying to keep in or out. A properly installed electric fence wont cause serious harm to animals (or people!) that happen to come in contact with the energized wires. While most electric fencing consists of only a few bare wires strung between some lightweight insulators, its an animals learned fear of the fence not the strength of the wire that keeps the animal contained. Most animals that make initial contact with an electric fence will immediately back up. However, if the energized wires are spaced too far apart, an animal may be able to extend its head through to the other side before touching an energized wire. Feeling the sting further back on its neck, the startled animal may bolt straight through instead of backing up, no doubt dragging your new fence behind it! For this reason, you must use the correct wire spacing and fence design for the animals youre trying to contain. Some electric fencing systems use wires that are woven into a brightly colored flat tape or rope. This type of electric fencing material makes it easier for animals to recognize what happens when they get too near and thus remember to steer clear. Larger animals, such as horses and cattle, may be more manageable when using wider electric fencing tape because its easier for them to see than bare wire. One of the newest forms of electric fencing is electrified netting. Woven into this non-metallic netting are tiny electrically interconnected metal strands. This fencing material works to contain smaller animals goats, chickens, turkeys, rabbits, and even cats and dogs better than wider-spaced electric fence wire. Electric fencing requires an energizer to deliver pulsed charges to the conductor, usually at or less than one high-voltage pulse per second. Comparing energizers can be confusing because few rating standards are used in their marketing. Some units list their output in volts, while others use joules (the international unit of energy measurement). Some brands advertise how many acres of fencing their unit can energize, while others publicize their power output in miles of fencing. The best measurement of an electric fence energizer is how many joules of energy it delivers per pulse. A joule equals 1 watt-second of power output, or, more precisely, the amount of work required to generate 1 watt of power for 1 second. The largest off-the-shelf fence energizer I found locally had a rating of 6 joules and was advertised to energize up to 100 miles of fence wire. If this unit failed, all 100 miles of fence wire would instantly become useless. However, if you use multiple smaller energizers, any single failure would mean only one of the fenced areas would become non-energized. Remember that these ratings apply to the total length of wire used, not necessarily the length of the fence. So a 6-joule energizer that can energize 100 miles of fence wire would provide enough power for a 5-wire fence thats 20 miles long (or a 4-wire fence thats 25 miles long, and so on). A solar-powered energizer with an output of 0.5 to 1 joule should easily meet the needs of most small-scale homesteaders, providing enough power to energize miles of fence wire or enclose up to 50 acres of pasture. Most self-contained solar energizers consist of a weatherproof enclosure containing a maintenance-free battery, with a small solar panel attached to the top on an adjustable mounting. Solar energizers with a larger capacity may require a bigger solar panel and battery, mounted separately from the energizer. The flexibility of the separate battery and solar panel will be especially useful if you need to reposition the solar panel away from the shade of nearby trees or would like to mount the panel on a raised pole. Fence energizers powered by an external 12-volt battery typically cost half the price of energizers with a smaller built-in battery and solar panel. This price savings can help offset the added cost of buying a separate external battery, solar charge controller, and solar panel. Not only does this approach allow the use of a wider selection of solar panels, but the larger battery provides weeks of stand-alone operation during extended periods of low sunlight. More expensive solar energizers may offer optional features, such as a digital display or meter, selective output levels, system trouble alarms, increased lightning protection, and a lower output at night to save battery charge. Large solar energizers are designed to be mounted on a wooden post, and only require connecting a jumper wire to the fence and a ground rod. Smaller, self-contained solar energizers intended for temporary electric fencing applications are designed to be placed directly on the ground and dont require a fixed mounting. A solar fence energizer has a low power drain on the battery because the output power is pulsed on and off, rather than remaining continuously energized. This cycling allows time for the power circuits to increase the 12-volt battery voltage to more than 5,000 volts, which is then discharged in short pulses. In addition, this pulsing effect provides more shock value to an animal in the form of multiple stings, rather than a single continuous discharge. The three disadvantages of using a solar-powered electric fence energizer include the need to locate the solar panel where it will receive lots of sun; the higher cost; and the occasional replacement of the battery. However, high-quality, sealed absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries and gel-cell batteries will power an energizer for four or more years before replacement is necessary. If youre already using a grid-connected energizer, converting to solar power will be very easy. It will require replacing your 120-volt AC energizer with a self-contained solar energizer with its own battery and solar panel. Unlike your existing grid-connected energizer, your solar energizer can be located almost anywhere with ample sun. After placing or mounting the solar energizer, position the solar panel for maximum performance typically with the panels face oriented either due south or southwest. A tilt angle equal to the latitude of your location will provide the best overall year-round performance for most homesteads. This will be in the 30- to 40-degree range for the southern half of the United States, and the 40- to 50-degree range for the northern half. The battery-charging output of any solar panel will be substantially reduced by the shadow cast by even a small branch onto a very small part of the panel. While the solar panel will most likely be in total shade during the very early morning and late afternoon hours (when the sun is lower on the horizon and shadows are long), you should try your best to avoid any shading between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun is highest in the sky. If you plan to assemble your own custom system, make sure your fence energizer is designed for the voltage of the external battery you want to use. A sealed recreational vehicle (RV) or marine battery will provide many more days of operation during long periods of cloudy weather than a model with a smaller internal battery. Maintenance-free deep-cycle batteries are designed for continuous charge and discharge cycling. Car batteries have much thinner plates to reduce weight and arent designed for this constant cycling. I prefer using either a sealed AGM or gel-cell battery instead of a wet-cell battery. Because theyre totally sealed, they can be mounted in any position, and theres no danger of an animal tipping them over and spilling liquid acid. A BCI Group No. 22NF sealed battery that has a 55-amp-hour capacity is more than adequate for energizing miles of electric fencing and can store extra power for locations that experience weeks of cloudy weather. This is a significantly longer operating period than is possible with the 6- to 10-amp-hour internal battery typically included with most packaged solar energizers. When selecting a solar panel to keep your energizer battery charged, make sure its rated for 12-volt charging. Typically, the nameplate will list a 21-volt DC open-circuit voltage and a 17-volt charging voltage. A solar panel rated at 6 to 10 watts should be able to maintain the battery for an energizer rated at 0.3 to 0.5 joule, while a solar panel rated at 12 to 20 watts should be able to maintain the battery for an energizer rated at 1 to 2 joules. Which you choose will ultimately depend on the size of your fenced area, your climate conditions, and your latitude. Anytime an animal comes in contact with an energized fence wire, theyre completing an electrical circuit. Unfortunately, one of the most neglected areas of electric fence installation is properly grounding the system. The ground rod is typically a copper-clad steel rod driven into the earth next to the energizer. Grounding is a major part of the electrical path from the animal back to the energizer, and must be installed correctly, otherwise this electrical circuit wont be complete. Fenced areas that stay slightly damp year-round may only require one ground rod, while very dry climates may require multiple ground rods (typically spaced at least 10 feet apart) to achieve adequate ground contact. These ground rods are the same as those used for grounding a homes electrical service and should be driven 6 to 8 feet into the earth. After youve installed the fence, ground rods, and solar-powered fence energizer, and properly positioned the solar panel, its time to test. This task will be best performed using a high-voltage fence tester. These typically cost less than $10 cheap insurance for keeping your valuable animals from heading to town. As you walk along the fence line, check the output of each wire and note any section of wire thats not energized or that has a low voltage level. If any objects, tree branches, or tall weeds come in contact with an electrified fence, they can drain off voltage and significantly lower the shock value, or even short all the voltage to ground. Walk your fence line regularly and keep all weeds and tall grass at least 5 feet away from either side of the fencing. Youll also want to check around the solar panel to make sure that weeds or bushes havent grown tall enough to shade any part of it. As with any electrically energized equipment, be sure to follow the manufacturers installation and safety instructions, and never rely totally on any electric fence to keep animals away from cliffs, highways, or deep bodies of water. You should still use traditional metal or wood fencing in conjunction with electric fencing for property boundaries, and use electric for internal division of pastures, gardens, and temporary grazing areas. You can even attach new solar-powered electric fencing to existing wood or metal fencing using the proper insulators. With a reasonable level of maintenance, your solar-powered fencing system should provide many years of trouble-free performance.\n', 'Portable electric net fences make rotational grazing easier, offering many benefits to small-scale herds. Regular herd movement helps break parasite cycles, provides fresher sources of balanced forage, and helps the land recover once animals are removed from an area. Rotational grazing mimics the natural movement of wild animals, which do not restrict themselves to the same patch of ground year-round, though homesteaders generally prefer not to expose their domestic animals to the same predator threats as their wild cousins. Electric net fences are a modern boon to this style of management, allowing easy and secure paddocks to be set up and moved regularly without fussing over permanent fences. These systems also come with quirks and hazards, however, which should be understood and respected for best results. Each fence consists of a net woven from a combination of insulating plastic strands and conductive metal strands, supported by insulated posts. When connected to a proper power source, the nets carry pulses of electricity that will produce an uncomfortable shock to any animal that touches the fence while standing on the ground. This produces a deterrent effect, whether to predators nosing against the fence from the outside, or domestic animals testing the boundary from the inside. All fences must be connected to a dedicated energizer, which is a unit that converts regular household power into the proper electric pulse for the fence. (Solar chargers are available, as well, but they rely on batteries that dont last forever. We prefer plug-in units.) Weve used a variety of nets from Premier1 of Iowa for our goats, chickens, pigs, and crops; their website hosts a thorough discussion of net fence basics . Portable nets are the easiest way to keep goats moving about the landscape, but its very important to train all animals to these fences. Since theyre not as secure as permanent wire-mesh fences, their value and safety relies on the animal understanding and respecting the barrier. An animal which becomes entangled in a net runs the risk of injury or death through a combination of strangulation and shock stress. Young goat kids are particularly vulnerable because their smaller heads fit easily through the fences openings as they explore the new world around them. Unlike a solid fence like a cattle panel, once a kids head is through a flexible net, its much harder for them to withdraw without getting entangled. Meanwhile, the fence is now shocking the kid regularly, a double-dose of danger. There are several ways to mitigate this risk. Introduce kids to net fences slowly and intentionally. You can set up a test section and actually hold kids against it briefly, creating an association between shock and fence that will linger in their mind. This temporary unpleasantness is well worth the long-term benefits for the animal. Also, try to be within earshot as much as possible when using electric nets with young kids. If you hear hollering, its easy to run down, disconnect the fence, and free the kid before any permanent harm is done. We start kids within a permanent non-electric paddock, only releasing them to a net-fenced area when were nearby, until were comfortable with their acclimation to the nets. A similar process can be used with any new goats you introduce to your herd, or any problem goats that seem determined to test fences. Simply watching your herd can help in identifying individuals who show less respect than youd like. Electric net fences allow targeting grazing of specific areas. Goats are smart, but this works both ways. They quickly learn to avoid a hot fence, but also quickly figure out when a fence is off or shorted-out. A weak or dead fence is not only an invitation to escape, but an invitation to danger, because a goat that doesnt fear a net can become entangled as its curiosity or wanderlust takes hold. Test fences regularly, and keep them as weed-free as possible. We generally use a string trimmer or scythe to quickly knock down vegetation before setting up a net. Check the nets now and then for broken wires or other loose connections, to ensure power is reaching all parts of the fence. When setting up the nets, make sure none of the hot wires becomes accidently wrapped around the metal part of the post as it goes into the ground; this can be a baffling fault to find when it happens unknowingly. Also consider the layout of your fences. Are there choke points or tight corners where a goat could be forced into contact with a fence? Goats have a well-defined social structure, maintained in part by physical interactions, and its possible for an otherwise wary goat to be shoved into a fence during such behavior if there isnt sufficient room for movement or escape. Goats are quite capable of jumping the height of a goat-style electric net, but with good management, this rarely happens. In our experience, goats respect nets as long as their needs are being met. For example, if theyve exhausted the food within their paddock and see lush brush nearby, they may be inclined to jump. Regular movement of grazing areas, which portable nets facilitate, mitigates this behavior. Breeding season is another time when goats may seek to fulfill their desires beyond a fence. Weve encountered one doe whose tendency to try to escape seemed to coincide with her heat cycle, even with no bucks for miles around. In our experience, the modest risks of using net fences with goats are far outweighed by the many significant benefits. Portable fences have reduced our reliance on permanent fences, saving money and resources while helping us maintain a more open landscape. Moving our herd regularly to new grazing areas contributed to breaking the parasite cycle, reducing the need for chemical dewormers. The nets provide more security from coyotes and loose dogs, and help keep the goats where they belong. They allow us to graze a wider variety of landscapes, improving the herds diet and providing beneficial land management. With all these benefits, its well worth taking the time to teach goats to respect such fences, for everyones sake. Photos by Chert Hollow Farm Eric Reuter and his wife, Joanna, founded their homestead farm in 2006, within a narrow Ozark-style valley with diverse landscapes and ecosystems. Chert Hollow Farm seeks to integrate food and farming into the ecosystem, at various times managing vegetable & grain crops, perennial fruits, dairy/meat goats, poultry, timber resources, and natural habitats. Read all of Erics MOTHER EARTH NEWS posts here . All MOTHER EARTH NEWS community bloggers have agreed to follow our Blogging Best Practices , and they are responsible for the accuracy of their posts. To learn more about the author of this post, click on the byline link at the top of the page.\n', 'STEPHENS CITY Theres an environmentally safe way to banish invasive weeds from woodlands and fields without missing a bleat. While goats are known for contributing milk to a variety of cheeses and making occasional cameo appearances in yoga classes, theres a local herd for hire that can help chomp away at pesky plants. Seven Hungry Goats at Heartsong Hill near Stephens City is certified and ready to help you get out of the weeds. Employing grazing animals to tidy up fields and improve woodlands is nothing new in this region. Woodrow Wilson enlisted a herd of sheep to keep the White Houses front lawn mowed during World War I, and such efforts certainly date back much further than that. But, hiring out goat herds as an ecological approach to weed control using targeted grazing is a fresh take on an old tradition that benefits both the goat herd and humans. Seven castrated male goats, or wethers, comprise the Heartsong Hill herd, according to farm owner Deborah Phillips. All herd members are 3 years old. One is a Mini-Nubian, named Auris, who is taller than the rest. Fluffy-eared Auris gets first pick at higher vegetation, such as intrusive vines that wend their way up tree trunks. The other six are Nigerian Dwarfs that love to devour plants that are closer to the ground. While members of the herd are fully grown, they are still smaller than other breeds. And while they are no longer kids (a kid is a baby goat), watching them work is akin to being in a kindergarten classroom, Phillips says. They eat. They jump around. They eat. They jostle one another. They nap. In fact, like some of their youthful human counterparts, their favorite snack is animal crackers. When they graze, they work from the top down, eating higher vegetation at first. They like gnawing on woody-stemmed plants that can be tough for humans to remove. Phillips says they dont eat from one spot continuously until the plant is devoured. Instead, like an energetic child, goats browse. They get a snack. They chew their cud. They play. And then they come back to the bush. When Phillips takes the herd out on a job, she leaves their travel trailer on-site so the goats have a cozy place to rest. She installs a temporary electric fence that is solar powered around the perimeter to prevent any would be Houdinis from wandering off the property and to guard the herd from would-be predators. She makes sure there isnt any vegetation around that might be toxic to the goats. Phillips nets off or blocks off any hazardous plants. It is a misnomer that goats can eat everything. There are some plants, like rhododendrons, that are toxic to the otherwise adventurous eaters. When the conditions are deemed safe, the goats get to work roaming the ground, playing and eating. For added safety, she is getting ready to install a solar-powered camera on the trailer that will enable her to monitor the herd while she is off-site. Using goats to clear land takes more than just one day. The weeding is a gradual process that might take a few sessions over the course of years. Depending on the foliage, seven goats can clear an acre in about a month. But, weeds seed and develop during different times of the growing season. The amount of time for a project varies depending on size of acreage and the types of targeted plants. Phillips has enough fencing to cover two acres at a time. The goats seem to enjoy being put to work. They love it when theres green stuff, she says. The change in venue seems to do them good. When Phillips was tending her herd on a job clearing a space at The State Arboretum of Virginia at Blandy Experimental Farm in Clarke County last fall, she says the goats seemed joyful at times. One day I went out there and they had been taking a siesta in the trailer. When I arrived they started running the length of the field and back, back and forth. They were so energetic! Phillips says. The targeted grazing does the goats guts and health good, too. Phillips, a scientist who has degrees in medical microbiology and immunology, says eating the vegetation keeps their urinary tracts clear and promotes good caprine health. When the herd is out on a job grazing, Phillips says she checks in on them once or twice a day. They dont really need any additional food. But, I do give them a little grain at night or hay. They enjoy a little bedtime snack, according to Phillips. Its a win-win situation when it comes to the goats and humans. Using goats to clear a property of poison ivy, English ivy and other invasive species allows landowners to avoid using gas-powered machinery. In addition, agile-footed goats can get to crevices, climb obstacles and get up and down inclines in a way heavy machinery cannot. In addition, Phillips says, large machinery can compress soil, whereas goat hooves help turn toil while goat manure fertilizes it. Any seed heads the goats consume are rendered sterile by goat saliva and by passing through their digestive tracts. This natural process prevents germination of another generation of pesky plants without having to use harsh herbicides. And, if a landowner hopes to restore a property with native plants or rev up growth of desirable vegetation, the goats aid that in another way as well. The manure the goats produce while grazing enriches the soil, lending nutrients that renders robust new growth. Targeted goat grazing also benefits the environment by helping to reduce the possibility of unintended forest or field fires that can be fed by brush. Since goats munch on the undergrowth and remove growth up to six inches tall, according to Phillips, if a fire starts, there is less fuel for the fire to spread. You can learn more about targeted grazing, rates and hiring 7 Hungry Goats by emailing 7hungrygoats@gmail.com or checking out the website heartsonghillgoats.com .\n', "Goats were added to Minecraft in the 1.17 update . They debuted alongside glow squids and axolotls, but goats quickly became a fan favorite mob. Their behavior made them interesting when compared to other mobs. Their drops were unique as well. Goats can't be tamed, but have become pretty popular pets in the world of Minecraft. Goats aren't found frequently since they don't spawn in many biomes, which is why many players might not know what to do if they come across a goat. They have the ability to jump very high, which can cause issues. However, there are ways to prevent goats from jumping. Here's how to do that and more about goats in Minecraft 1.19 version . When players want to keep a goat as a pet , they will probably do what they do with other non-tameable pets: put them in a fenced area or on a lead. The latter works fine and will stop them from escaping. However, goats can jump up to 10 blocks in the air and five blocks forward. So, building a fence around them will do absolutely nothing to stop them from jumping out and walking away. Ultimately, there's one simple way to stop this from happening: put honey blocks down. Honey blocks prevent goats from jumping, and therefore the surrounding fence is now a lot more useful. Honey blocks are crafted with four bottles of honey, obtained by using a glass bottle on a bee hive. To ensure that the goat doesn't jump out, all blocks inside the pen, including the ones on which the fence posts sit, should be honey. It would be frustrating if the goats were able to stand on one of the fence blocks and jump due to there being dirt just underfoot. Honey blocks are the only way to prevent goats from jumping at all, but there are ways to stop them from escaping. As mentioned, a lead will do wonders. However, there are other ways. Goats can't jump through blocks, so surrounding them with blocks would keep them enclosed. This could be done with glass blocks or iron bars and would look similar to an enclosure at the zoo. It's best to make this as wide as possible and as tall as possible, especially since goats can jump 10 blocks high. According to the Minecraft Wiki, goats spawn only in certain mountainous biomes . This is how they spawn: That often is far away from spawn for Minecraft players, so it's best to carry a lead if there's a chance that a goat might be found along the way, otherwise, it will be nearly impossible to transport them. Poll : 0 votes Quick Links\n", 'The type of fence you build for your animals will be most effective if youve first considered the nature of your animals and the size of area to be fenced. The size and location of the enclosure determine the pressure the fence will receive from animals. Consider, too, the labor and skill available for installation. For many applications, electric fencing, in particular, offers flexibility of design and construction. Properly designed electric fencing can effectively restrain many types of animal from bison to geese and rabbits. While not a good choice for deer and elk, electric fencing works well for pigs, cattle, and horses. With effective design and animal training, electric fencing can even work for sheep and goats. After animals are trained, electric fencing presents a psychological barrier rather than a physical one. While deciding whether the area to be fenced requires fixed materials or lends itself to electric construction, determine how the size and use of the enclosure will affect animal behavior. For instance, sheep grazing good pasture in a large acreage may be restrained by electric fencing because they behave differently from sheep confined in a small area where they are fed hay. Sheep, in particular, tend to walk a fence looking for a way out, and if theres a dip in the ground, for instance, creating a 10- to 12-inch gap between the ground and the fence, theyll slip beneath the wire there, says David Lautt of Lautts Feed and Supply, a livestock fencing and supply outlet in Harvey, North Dakota. His retail business formerly offered a contract fencing service for all classes of livestock. Sheep confined to a relatively small area might best be contained by physical-barrier fencing. Sorting alleys or small enclosures, too, are high-pressure areas also best suited to physical-barrier fencing. Fencing that creates a physical barrier is constructed of fixed materials such as wooden planks, metal livestock panels, sucker rod, welded wire, or high-tensile mesh wire well supported with line posts set in the ground. If you choose to install an electric fence, first consider that its effectiveness will be influenced by two aspects of animal behavior. 1. Imprinting. When animals learn respect for a fence at a very young age, they tend to carry this obedience into adulthood. For instance, even a minimal electric fence built from two well-energized polywires can imprint baby goats so effectively that, even as adults, they will respect two-wire electric fencing systems. Effective first lessons are the key and depend on proper wire height relative to the baby goat and a powerful energizer. 2. Escaping. Any weakness in the fence that permits or encourages animals to escape trains an escaping behavior into the animal. Once an animal finds a way out of an enclosure, it tends to repeatedly return to the weak spot, seeking a way out. Some individuals within any group of animals tend to persistently find ways to get outside of the fence, particularly in the case of electric fences. These troublemakers lure other animals outside the fence, and that trains the whole group in the art of escaping. The only way to solve that problem is to get rid of those individuals or to confine them in a fence constructed of materials creating a physical barrier, says Lautt. When designing electric fencing, consider that multiple wires and line posts set at a relatively close spacing strengthen an animals perception that the electric fence, indeed, presents something of a physical barrier. When multiple wires are used, Lautt suggests first setting the bottom wire at a level that discourages an animal from going underneath. Next, set the top wire at the face level of the target species to be contained. Set the middle wires at spacings relative to the size of the animal. On a five-wire sheep fence thats 3 feet high, space the wires 6 inches apart, he says. For rabbits and poultry, you might space the wires 2 to 3 inches apart. Animals well trained to electric fencing may require only one wire. 1. High-tensile wire. This wires relatively thick 12.5-gauge dimension conducts electricity effectively. It also offers strength, making it a good choice for perimeter fencing because it resists breaking. On the downside, the thickness of the wire can make it hard to handle. High-tensile wire requires strong corner and end bracing. The bracing is best built in an H design using 6-inch-diameter wooden 8-foot posts set 3 feet in the ground. Line posts for high-tensile electric fencing should also be of strong construction, such as steel T-posts or wood posts of 3 inches to 5 inches in diameter. Cost: High-tensile wire costs 2 a foot; treated wood line posts, $4 to $10 each; 5-foot steel posts, $5.30 each; treated corner posts, $16.50 each. 2. Galvanized 14-gauge wire. This lighter wire is relatively easy to work with and can be hand-stretched from single corner posts. Wood posts or steel T-posts can serve as corner braces. For relatively short fence spans, 1-inch or larger plastic pound-in posts can also serve as corners or end posts. This wire will break or stretch if larger animals, such as cattle or horses, hit it with speed. Light step-in line posts of diverse designs can work with 14-gauge wire. Plastic posts require no insulators. Metal-rod step-in posts are particularly durable, and the screw-on insulators offer infinite adjustments in wire height. Cost: Wire, 3 a foot; step-in posts, $2 to $2.50 each. 3. Polywire. While conducting electricity is slightly less effective than metal wire, light and flexible single-strand polywire offers ease of installation for temporary fencing for domesticated livestock. Wider and more visible polytape is an alternative choice for horses. Handheld reels permit ease of unrolling and rolling up the wire. Any type of step-in, insulated line posts will support the polywire. Cost: Varies by brand, diameter, and electrical conductivity; 2 to 5 a foot for -inch polywire, up to 14 a foot for -inch polywire. 4. Polywire netting. This portable mesh fencing suits all classes of livestock, particularly sheep and goats. Mesh squares range from 3 to 7 inches. Netting comes in rolls with built-in step-in posts. Height varies from 28 inches to 48 inches. Cost: $1.50 a foot for 48-inch-tall netting with 3-inch spacings; $1.20 a foot for 48-inch-tall netting with 7-inch openings. 5. Energizers. These are available in plug-in, battery-powered, and solar models. A fencing supplier can help you match energizer size to the design of your fencing system. Purchasing an energizer of more-than-sufficient power helps ensure conductivity even under less-than-ideal conditions such as tall grass or weeds, which impede electrical current when touching the wire. Install with one or more ground rods. Cost: Varies by manufacturer and joule output. Plug-in 110-volt energizers providing .30 joules and sized for a 20-acre system may cost $85; a plug-in model providing .50 joules and sized for a 50-acre system may cost $115. Solar energizers sized for smaller systems may cost from $100 to $200. 6. Voltage meters. Handheld digital voltage meters tell you the strength of the electrical current in the wires. Low readings indicate electrical shorts or poorly performing design components in the fence. For cattle, I like to see a reading of 3 kilovolts or higher, says Lautt. A reading of 3.5 to 4 kilovolts is better for sheep, for instance. Cost: $100.\n', "And Conwy Council will refuse to confine the Kashmir goats using fencing for fear it will become solely responsible for the animals welfare. Councillors will consider a plan to manage the herd with its partner agencies after the animals rampaged through Llandudno, Llanrhos, and Craig y Don during the height of the pandemic. Working with the town council, Mostyn Estates, Natural Resources Wales, and the RSPCA, the council is looking at new ways to manage the animals to minimise conflict with human neighbours. Current methods of controlling the goat population and their movements include herding the animals on some occasions, contraception, and relocation. But the report warns that landowners are responsible for protecting their land and could even be responsible for the animals welfare. NEWSLETTER: Get the latest stories from the Colwyn Bay, Conwy and Llandudno area sent straight to your inbox by signing up here The report reads:\xa0The goats of Llandudno have roamed in a wild state for over 100 years and were originally a gift to\xa0Lord Mostyn from Queen Victoria. Although once in the ownership of Lord Mostyn, the goats have\xa0reverted to a wild state and are therefore now regarded as wild animals. No one person or organisation is legally responsible for the goat populations of Llandudno, and they\xa0may only become someones property if they are confined. As the goats are feral animals, it is therefore not the councils legal responsibility to keep the goats\xa0on the Great Orme by way of fencing or containment. If damage is being caused to adjoining\xa0properties, the onus is therefore on those property owners to keep the goats out. A landowner has a legal entitlement to act on behalf of an animals welfare if a wild animal is in\xa0distress whilst on their land. MORE NEWS: Three months of 'misery' as Llandudno Junction flyover work causes congestion The report also documents how the council considered shooting goats during the 1990s to keep numbers low, only for a public demonstration to stop the local authority. The report reads: A working group, comprising Council officers, Countryside Council for Wales, Mostyn Estates, and a local veterinary surgeon, considered the various options. It recommended that the population of feral goats be controlled through shooting individual animals, targeting ones that were sick, injured, or very elderly. This recommendation was supported by the Great Orme Country Park Working Party and Aberconwy Borough Councils planning committee but was overturned at full council following a large public demonstration at Bodlondeb. The councils economy and place overview and scrutiny committee will debate issues included in the Llandudno Feral Goats Management Plan on Thursday.\n", 'The six-foot high fence now comes down to the Hallmark Hotel, just before the former East Cliff rail lift. John Hunter, 51, who lives in Riviera Apartments in Grove Road, claimed residents had not been notified about the crazy fence and that the whole block is angry. Why dont they come repair our roads. It is atrocious. There are potholes, I have to swerve around the road, he said. The kids will see the goats and jump the first fence to run up to the larger one. I have never seen anything like this. Its unbelievable. Theyre using animals to keep their land in check. Imagine people putting a fence up in your garden. Johns wife, Susan, 56, added: I am a great animal lover, but they are never going to be able to cut the grass. I have no idea why the council have done it. I would like to know how much it cost. The council have been spending our tax on goats. Lynda Goldstein, who lives on the ground floor of the apartments, said: Its an eyesore. Theyve devalued the property by about 50,000. The initial part of the fence was erected in November last year, but the goats arent expected to arrive until the Spring. The fence now starts near Boscombe pier, ending just before the lift. Following concerns after the initial installation of the fence, the council said it would look at reducing the height because of its impact on residents views. After the second part of the fence went up, Councillor Felicity Rice, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: Fencing work has continued from the work started last year and remains ongoing as part of our plans to secure nine compartments to manage the cliff habitat properly and gain the best environmental benefit. We are in a global climate and ecological emergency and need to be managing all of our greenspace and habitats in the most sustainable way. Most of Bournemouths cliffs have important and rare species living on them and grazing animals is the best way of managing these spaces and enabling us to meet our legal responsibilities to protect rare wildlife. We have agreed to reduce the height of the top sections of fencing to help with the view but maintain safe contained grazing areas for the goats. This will take place within the next few weeks. Goats have been on Bournemouths cliffs for more than a decade around Boscombe, Manor Steps and towards Southbourne. The council says it has a countryside stewardship agreement lasting until 2024. It is apparently due to receive 256,000 over the five years money towards the fence and the goats. None of the costs of management on our cliffs come from council tax contributions.\n'