7 Best Premium Netting For Livestock For Small Acreage

You’ve moved your animals to a fresh patch of grass, and for a few hours, everything is perfect. Then you get the call—the sheep are in the neighbor’s garden again. This is the moment every small-acreage farmer dreads, and it’s where the right fencing makes all the difference. Electric netting isn’t just about containment; it’s the key to unlocking the full potential of your land through managed rotational grazing.

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Choosing Netting for Rotational Grazing

Moving animals is the core of small-acreage grazing. Electric netting is the single best tool for this job, turning a multi-hour ordeal of pounding posts into a 15-minute task. It acts as both a physical and a psychological barrier, teaching livestock to respect the fence line from day one. This flexibility allows you to create paddocks of any shape, graze difficult areas, and rapidly improve your soil health.

But not all netting is created equal. The right choice depends entirely on what you’re trying to contain and what you’re trying to keep out. A net that works perfectly for slow-moving sheep will be a disaster for flighty chickens or determined goats. The key is to match the fence’s specifications to your animals’ behavior.

Before buying, consider these critical factors. The most important are height and the size of the mesh openings, especially near the bottom. Also, look at the posts—are they single-spike for easy placement in soft soil, or double-spike for better stability in hard or uneven ground? Finally, check the conductivity rating (measured in ohms); lower numbers mean less resistance and a more powerful shock at the far end of the fence, which is crucial for long runs or when dealing with heavy weed pressure.

Think about your daily reality. If you’re moving the fence every single day, a lighter, more flexible system is a blessing. If you’re setting up a perimeter for a week at a time to protect lambs from coyotes, a taller, more robust net is non-negotiable. It’s a classic tradeoff between convenience and security.

Premier 1 ElectroNet: The All-Purpose Standard

When you see experienced shepherds setting up temporary paddocks, you’re often looking at Premier 1 netting. It has earned its reputation as the industry standard for a reason: it’s incredibly reliable, well-built, and versatile enough for sheep, goats, calves, and guard dogs. The build quality is immediately apparent, from the durable poly-wire to the rigid vertical struts that help minimize sagging.

What sets Premier 1 apart is the attention to detail. Most of their nets feature double-spiked posts, which provide a huge advantage in stability on windy days or in rocky soil. The conductivity is excellent, ensuring a consistent, sharp shock that trains animals quickly. While it’s a premium product with a price to match, it’s an investment that pays off in fewer escapes and a much longer lifespan than cheaper alternatives.

Think of this as the buy-once, cry-once option. If you’re just starting and can only afford one type of netting, this is the one to get. It’s effective, forgiving for beginners, and will last for years with proper care. You simply can’t go wrong starting here.

Gallagher SmartFence 2: Ultimate Portability

The Gallagher SmartFence isn’t a traditional net, but it solves the same problem with a different approach. It’s an all-in-one system of posts, reels, and poly-wire designed for maximum speed and portability. If your goal is daily strip-grazing for cattle or moving a fence line in under 10 minutes, this is your tool.

Imagine walking a fence line and having the posts, wire, and tensioning system all deploy from a single, easy-to-carry unit. That’s the SmartFence. It’s brilliant for subdividing larger pastures or creating temporary lanes. The system is incredibly lightweight and compact, making it easy to throw in the back of a UTV or even carry long distances.

The tradeoff, however, is significant. The SmartFence uses four strands of poly-wire, making it more of a psychological barrier than a physical one. It’s perfect for trained cattle or sheep, but it is not suitable for containing poultry or keeping out small, determined predators like raccoons. It’s a specialized tool for rapid deployment, not all-purpose containment.

Starkline Netting: A Reliable, Value Option

Starkline has carved out a solid niche by offering a product that feels and performs much like the premium brands, but at a more accessible price point. For the hobby farmer needing to fence a larger area or buy multiple rolls, this value is a major consideration. It delivers reliable performance without the sticker shock.

Functionally, Starkline nets are very similar to Premier 1, offering options for sheep, goats, and poultry. They come with both single- and double-spiked posts, and the conductivity is more than adequate for most small-farm setups. The materials may not have the same top-tier feel as the most expensive brands, but they are robust and hold up well to regular use.

This is the ideal choice for someone expanding their grazing operation or for a beginner who wants a quality product without the premium investment. It hits the sweet spot of affordability and function, proving you don’t have to break the bank to get a secure, effective electric fence.

Kencove Sheep & Goat Net: Taller & Stronger

Goats view most fences as a personal challenge. For containing natural escape artists like them, or for operations in areas with heavy predator pressure from coyotes, a standard net might not be enough. Kencove’s taller netting options are specifically designed for these high-security situations.

Typically standing at 48 inches tall, this netting provides a formidable barrier that most goats and predators won’t even attempt to jump. Kencove also uses more rigid vertical struts, which is a critical feature. This rigidity prevents the sagging that can create weak spots or opportunities for an animal to push its way through the middle of the net.

This extra height and strength come at the cost of weight and ease of handling. A 48-inch roll is noticeably heavier and more cumbersome to set up than a standard 40- or 42-inch net. But when you’re trying to protect valuable breeding stock or simply keep your sanity, that extra effort is a small price to pay for a fence that actually works.

Powerfields Poultry Net: For Secure Flocks

Poultry present a unique fencing challenge. You need to keep them in, but more importantly, you need to keep a long list of predators out. Powerfields poultry netting is engineered specifically for this dual purpose, with features that make it a top choice for pastured flocks.

The key feature of any good poultry net is the graduated mesh spacing. The openings at the bottom are very small, preventing small birds from slipping through and, crucially, stopping predators like weasels, raccoons, and foxes from getting a head start. The fence must be properly energized to be effective; a hot wire is the only thing that will teach a raccoon to find an easier meal elsewhere.

Powerfields netting provides a good balance of durability and portability. The posts are typically lightweight and easy to push into the ground, making daily or weekly moves manageable. When set up correctly with a strong energizer, it creates a safe haven that allows your birds to forage freely without constant worry.

Zareba Bear & Pig Net: Heavy-Duty Control

Some situations call for a different level of respect. Containing pigs, which are powerful and love to test boundaries, or protecting livestock from bears requires a fence that delivers an unforgettable shock. Zareba’s heavy-duty netting is built for exactly these high-stakes scenarios.

This netting is constructed with thicker, more rigid posts and heavier-gauge poly-wire with highly conductive materials. The entire system is designed to carry a powerful charge from a low-impedance energizer and deliver a jolt that even a 300-pound boar or a curious bear will respect immediately. The visual presence of the fence alone is often a significant deterrent.

This is not your everyday sheep fence. It’s heavier, more expensive, and requires a powerful energizer to be effective. But if you have pigs or live in bear country, standard netting is a liability. This is the right tool for a specific, serious job, providing peace of mind that other fences simply can’t offer.

Fi-Shock Poultry Net: Widely Available Choice

Sometimes, the best fence is the one you can get your hands on today. Fi-Shock netting is one of the most widely available options, found in major farm supply stores like Tractor Supply. This accessibility makes it a popular entry-level choice for people just starting with pastured poultry.

The Fi-Shock net gets the job done for basic containment. It has the necessary small openings at the bottom and is easy to set up for a weekend project. It’s a great way to try out rotational grazing with a small flock without a huge initial investment or waiting for a specialty item to be shipped.

However, you’re often trading convenience for long-term durability. The posts may be more flexible and the poly-wire less robust than in premium brands. It will absolutely work, but it may not stand up to the rigors of daily moves or harsh weather for as many seasons. Think of it as a solid starting point that you may decide to upgrade from as your operation grows.

Ultimately, the best netting is the one that matches your animals, your land, and your management style. Don’t get caught up in finding a single "perfect" solution; instead, focus on choosing the right tool for the specific job in front of you. A reliable fence is the foundation of a calm, productive, and sustainable small farm.