Product Description | News Release | Table of Contents

High-tensile wire fencing can withstand over one thousand pounds of livestock pressure or low-temperature contraction without losing its elasticity; yet the wire is flexible enough to bend, wrap, and knot during construction. This publication explains the advantages of high-tensile wire fencing and outlines construction methods for electric and nonelectric fences. Over twenty drawings of fence construction methods and tools are included. (1987)

High-tensile wire fencing has become increasingly popular in the United States because it has a longer life and costs less to buy and install than conventional fencing. High-tensile wire fencing, which is easily adapted to the specific needs of a livestock owner, can withstand over 1,000 pounds of livestock pressure or low temperature contraction without losing its elasticity, yet the wire is flexible enough to bend, wrap, and tie in knots during construction. A revised publication entitled High-Tensile Wire Fencing (NRAES-11), coauthored by an agricultural engineer and a wildlife ecologist, now includes 28 pages of descriptions of high-tensile wire fences, their advantages over conventional fencing, and construction methods for both electric and non-electric fences. Over twenty detailed drawings of fencing supplies, tools, construction methods, and fence types are featured in the new book.

A high-tensile wire fence consists of wires held in tension along wood or fiberglass posts or battens, and is ideal for enclosing sheep, hogs, goats, cattle, and horses. High-tensile wire fencing is also an excellent method of protecting agricultural crops from deer. Lightweight high-tensile wire is now being utilized for semi-permanent or temporary sub-division fence systems, a result of recent interest in intensive or controlled grazing systems.

High-tensile wire fencing has several advantages over conventional fencing methods. High-tensile wire is easy to handle, has a neat appearance, and requires little maintenance after installation. Perhaps most important of all, high-tensile wire fencing is safer for livestock, does minimal damage to animal hides, and is easily electrified to give better livestock restraint and predator protection. Also, the high elastic limit of high-tensile wire reduces the common stretch and sag problems associated with conventional fence wire.

High-tensile wire fences can easily be electrified to construct temporary or permanent livestock enclosures. Electrified fences for livestock enclosures can be constructed for about half the material and labor cost of an equivalent woven wire fence. Innovations in fence charge design and fence construction now make long runs of electrified fence easy to maintain.

The specification tables in High-Tensile Wire Fencing provide lists of the proper dimensions of supplies, installation requirements, and construction notes which will help a buyer choose the materials necessary for a fence suited to a specific purpose. Designs for high-tensile wire fence systems are available for all types of livestock, since wire spacing and electrical designs depend on the kind of livestock to be contained or predators excluded from an enclosure.

A high-tensile wire fence may be just the fence system your operation needs. In addition to restraining livestock, high-tensile wire fencing can be used to provide excellent predator protection for valuable crops.

High-Tensile Wire Fencing, NRAES-11, is available for $4.00 (plus shipping and handling) from NRAES, Cooperative Extension, PO Box 4557, Ithaca, New York 14852-4557. Quantity discounts are available. The shipping and handling charge is $4.25 for a single copy within the continental United States. New York residents, add sales tax (calculated on both the cost of publications and the shipping and handling charges. Click here for more information). If ordering more than one copy or if ordering from outside the United States, please contact NRAES for shipping costs. Orders from outside the United States must be prepaid in U.S. funds. Major credit cards are accepted, and checks should be made payable to NRAES. For information about quantity discounts, or for a free publications catalog, contact NRAES by phone at (607) 255-7654, fax (607) 254-8770, or e-mail nraes@cornell.edu. NRAES Web site http://www.nraes.org includes a list of other publications.