Sheep Fencing Guide — Keeping Lambs in and Predators Out

Sheep fencing has one fundamental challenge that cattle fencing doesn't: keeping small animals in while keeping other small animals out. A newborn lamb can squeeze through gaps that would stop a calf, and a fox can exploit any weakness in a fence line. Getting the mesh right is critical.

THE PROBLEM WITH STANDARD MESH

Standard 7/90/30 or 8/90/30 mesh has 30cm vertical spacing between the stay wires. This is fine for adult sheep and most lambs over a few weeks old. But brand-new lambs — especially Merino lambs that can be tiny — can push through a 30cm gap. And foxes, being roughly the same size, can do the same from the other side.

If you're running ewes and lambs in a paddock with a 30cm mesh boundary, you will lose lambs. Some through the fence, some to foxes that came through the fence. It's that simple.

THE SOLUTION: 15CM VERTICAL SPACING

Mesh with 15cm vertical spacing halves the gap size and makes it vastly harder for lambs to push through and for foxes to squeeze in. The two main options:

8/90/15 mesh: Same height as standard 8/90/30 (900mm) but with 15cm vertical wire spacing. At $440 per 200m roll, it costs more than the $310 for 8/90/30, but for breeding paddocks it's worth every cent. This is our most recommended sheep fencing mesh.

8/80/15 mesh: Slightly shorter at 800mm with 15cm spacing. Good for smaller properties and lambing paddocks where you don't need the full 900mm height.

The tighter spacing also makes the mesh stronger overall — more vertical wires means better load distribution across the fence.

BUILDING A PREDATOR-RESISTANT SHEEP FENCE

Mesh alone isn't the whole story. Foxes are resourceful and wild dogs are persistent. A properly built predator-resistant sheep fence includes:

1. 8/90/15 mesh as the primary barrier

2. Barbed wire along the bottom, pegged to the ground or buried 50mm in the soil. This discourages digging under.

3. Barbed wire along the top to prevent climbing over

4. Tight mesh-to-ground contact — no gaps at the bottom where the ground dips. Fill low spots with packed earth or rocks.

5. Solid strainer assemblies at close intervals (200m max) to maintain tension

For serious predator country — and much of the Central West east of Orange toward the ranges qualifies — consider adding:

6. An apron of mesh or netting laid flat on the ground extending 300-500mm outward from the base of the fence. Animals trying to dig at the fence base hit the apron instead.

7. Electric offset wire at 150mm above ground on the outside. One zap teaches most foxes to go elsewhere.

PICKET SPACING FOR SHEEP FENCING

Sheep fencing benefits from tighter picket spacing than cattle fencing. Where you might get away with 6-7m spacing for cattle on flat ground, sheep fencing should be 4-5m maximum. The tighter spacing keeps the mesh firm and prevents the bottom wire from lifting when sheep push against it.

Use 165cm or 180cm star pickets for standard sheep fencing. Our heavy 2.1kg/m pickets at $8.50 (165cm) or $8.40 (180cm) in black bitumen are the go. The extra weight means they resist being pushed by determined rams better than lighter pickets.

LAMBING PADDOCK SPECIFICS

For dedicated lambing paddocks, go the extra mile:

  • Use 8/90/15 mesh on all boundaries
  • Add a bottom barbed wire tight to the ground
  • Check the entire fence line before lambing starts — walk it and fix any gaps, loose clips, or lifted mesh
  • Consider temporary electric netting as an inner barrier if predator pressure is extreme
  • Keep grass and weeds trimmed along the fence line so you can spot damage quickly

WHAT ABOUT EXCLUSION FENCING FOR SHEEP?

If wild dogs are your primary threat (and they are in parts of the Central West, particularly toward the eastern ranges and around the Canobolas area), standard predator-resistant fencing may not be enough. Wild dogs are stronger and more persistent than foxes.

Exclusion fencing with 8/115/15 mesh ($250/100m) or 11/142/15 mesh ($330/100m) creates a taller, tighter barrier. Combined with an apron, electric offset, and possibly a Dogwatch trap arrangement, this is the gold standard for wild dog country.

Yes, it's expensive — $9-$10/m for materials — but if you're losing 5-10% of your lamb crop to dogs, it pays for itself in two to three seasons.

COST SUMMARY FOR SHEEP FENCING

  • Basic sheep fence (7/90/30): ~$4.20/m
  • Lamb-safe fence (8/90/15): ~$5.60/m
  • Predator-resistant (8/90/15 + bottom wire + apron): ~$6.80/m
  • Full exclusion (11/142/15): ~$9.60/m

We stock all of these options at 76 Astill Drive, Orange. Give us a call on 0434 093 077 and we'll help you work out the right level of protection for your operation.

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