The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Farmernick on September 05, 2018, 11:46:10 am

Title: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: Farmernick on September 05, 2018, 11:46:10 am
So I have a little predicament. I have just moved my ewes onto some better grass as I need to let our other field rest. I have 60 ewes, 40 of which will be tupped to one our rams and the other 20 to another.

I’ll be tupping at the beginning of October. My original plan was to move the 20 back for the 34 days they will be with one of the rams, but I still think the field needs more time to recover/grow. The field they are all now in is big enough to strip graze so my thought was to use electric to split the field in two, with 40 ewes and a tup one side, and the remaining 20 ewes and tup on the other.

How many strands should I make the fence to stop the tups trying to get through into next door? I was thinking three strands of electric but I really don’t want to end up with the wrong tup on the wrong side of the fence!!  ::)
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: Fleecewife on September 05, 2018, 11:49:51 am
I would go with option 1.  An electric fence could be disastrous when a tup is in the height of passion, or determined to have a bust up with the other tup.
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: Farmernick on September 05, 2018, 11:53:26 am
I would go with option 1.  An electric fence could be disastrous when a tup is in the height of passion, or determined to have a bust up with the other tup.

This is what I thought. Probably best in the long run!
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: twizzel on September 05, 2018, 03:30:00 pm
I’m planning on having a field in between my tupping groups... definitely don’t rely on electric. Just take the 20 back to the other field and supplement if they need something extra either with energy blocks or cake.
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: SallyintNorth on September 05, 2018, 11:04:43 pm

How many strands should I make the fence to stop the tups trying to get through into next door?

Where’s the symbol for infinity?  ;)
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: crobertson on September 11, 2018, 11:07:34 am
Our tup marched straight through our electric fencing last year without a care in the world to get some better grass nevermind if ewes had been on the other side!
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: thesuffolksmallholding on October 23, 2018, 12:01:22 pm
Never have a problem with my tup, leave him in from September to lambing time in February. Electric fence and ewes in a field just down the road who aren't pregnant, he won't go anywhere :)
Title: Re: Electric fencing at tupping time
Post by: twizzel on October 23, 2018, 04:39:03 pm
Never have a problem with my tup, leave him in from September to lambing time in February. Electric fence and ewes in a field just down the road who aren't pregnant, he won't go anywhere :)


yes but if you read the original post the electric fence is to separate 2 tupping groups in 1 field, a definite no no. both my tups stay behind electric fence but never would rely on it to keep them separate in the same field when out with their respective ewes.