6 Best Electric Sheep Nettings for Rotational Grazing

Watching a flock of sheep spread out over a fresh patch of pasture is one of the most satisfying sights on a small farm. But getting them there—and keeping them there—without permanent fencing can feel like an impossible puzzle. Electric netting transforms this challenge into a simple, repeatable system, turning your pastures into a powerful tool for raising healthier animals on healthier land.

Why Use Electric Netting for Rotational Grazing?

Rotational grazing is a cornerstone of sustainable small-scale farming, and electric netting is the key that unlocks its full potential. By moving your flock frequently to fresh paddocks, you break the life cycle of internal parasites like the dreaded barber pole worm, drastically reducing the need for chemical dewormers. This isn’t just about saving money on medication; it’s about building a more resilient, healthier flock from the ground up. The animals get the best nutrition from fresh forage, and the land gets the rest it needs to recover.

Beyond parasite control, electric netting is a powerful pasture management tool. It gives you precise control over grazing pressure, allowing you to target specific areas, trample in cover crop seeds, or protect sensitive riparian zones. Unlike permanent fencing, which locks you into a fixed layout, netting is infinitely adaptable. You can change the size and shape of paddocks based on the season, forage availability, and the size of your flock, ensuring your animals always have the best grass while your land regenerates behind them.

Finally, let’s talk about predators. A well-energized electric net is a formidable psychological and physical barrier for coyotes, stray dogs, and other threats. The shock it delivers is memorable, teaching predators to associate your flock with a painful experience and seek easier meals elsewhere. For a hobby farmer with limited time to stand guard, a properly installed electric net provides invaluable peace of mind, acting as a 24/7 shepherd.

Key Features to Look for in Sheep Net Fencing

Not all netting is created equal, and the right choice depends on your flock, terrain, and goals. The first thing to consider is height. A 35-inch net is often sufficient for docile, wool-heavy breeds, but if you’re raising more athletic sheep like Katahdins or have goats in the mix, a 42-inch or even 48-inch net is a wise investment to discourage jumpers.

Next, examine the conductors and post spacing. The horizontal lines that carry the charge are called conductors; more of them generally means a better, more consistent shock. Look for nets with at least eight horizontal strands, with tighter spacing at the bottom to contain lambs and deter small predators. The posts, which are pre-installed in the netting, should be spaced closely enough—typically 10 to 12 feet apart—to prevent sagging, which can lead to shorts and escapes. For hilly or uneven terrain, look for nets with more posts or plan to add extra step-in posts for support.

Finally, consider the small details that make a big difference in daily use.

• Post Spikes: Double-spiked posts offer far greater stability in soft or sandy soil compared to single spikes, making setup less frustrating.
• Vertical Struts: Semi-rigid vertical plastic "struts" between posts help the net maintain its shape and reduce tangling, a massive time-saver during setup and takedown.
• Visibility: Brightly colored netting (like white, orange, or yellow) helps animals learn the fence boundary visually, reducing the number of accidental shocks and training them more quickly.

Premier 1 ElectroNet Plus: The Top Overall Pick

If you want a proven, reliable system that balances durability and performance, the Premier 1 ElectroNet Plus is the standard-bearer. It features a 35-inch height and semi-rigid vertical struts that drastically reduce the frustrating tangling common with cheaper nets. The tighter mesh at the bottom is perfectly designed to keep young lambs from slipping through while also delivering a nose-level shock to any predator that comes sniffing around.

This netting is built for farmers who value their time and want equipment that just works. The double-spiked posts provide excellent stability in most soil types, and the overall construction feels robust enough to handle years of being rolled up, moved, and re-staked. While it sits at a higher price point, the thoughtful design features and reliable performance represent a sound investment in your grazing system.

The ElectroNet Plus is for the farmer who wants the best all-around performer and is willing to invest in quality upfront. It’s the dependable workhorse of the electric netting world. If you plan to rotate your flock consistently and want to minimize setup headaches, this is the net to get.

Gallagher SmartFence 2: Most Portable System

The Gallagher SmartFence 2 isn’t a traditional net; it’s a revolutionary all-in-one system of posts, reels, and wire designed for maximum portability. The entire 330-foot fence is contained in a single, easy-to-carry unit, allowing you to set up or take down a four-strand fence line in a matter of minutes. This incredible speed makes it perfect for daily moves or for creating temporary cross-fences within a larger, more secure perimeter.

The tradeoff for this portability is security. With only four strands, it relies heavily on the psychological respect your animals have for an electric fence and is not as secure against predator pressure or for containing untrained lambs as a true net. It works best with flock-bound, well-trained sheep who are already accustomed to electric fencing. Think of it less as a fortress and more as a highly respected guideline.

The SmartFence 2 is for the intensive grazier who prioritizes speed above all else. If you are moving animals every single day and have well-trained stock, the time saved with this system is a game-changer. It’s the ultimate tool for strip grazing or quickly subdividing pastures.

Starkline Electric Netting: A Reliable Value

Getting started in rotational grazing can feel expensive, and Starkline Electric Netting hits the sweet spot between affordability and functionality. It provides all the core features you need—decent height, multiple conductive strands, and pre-installed posts—without the premium price tag of some bigger names. This makes it an excellent choice for new shepherds or for farmers looking to expand their grazing system on a tight budget.

While the materials may not feel as heavy-duty as premium options, Starkline nets are more than capable of managing a flock effectively. They provide a respectable psychological and physical barrier, and when properly energized, they do the job of keeping sheep in and predators out. You might need to add a few extra step-in posts on uneven ground to keep it taut, but that’s a small price to pay for the significant upfront savings.

Starkline is for the farmer who needs a functional, no-frills solution without breaking the bank. If you’re buying multiple rolls to get your system started or just testing the waters of rotational grazing, this is the smartest, most economical way to do it.

Kencove Sheep & Goat Net: Best Heavy-Duty Pick

When your farm includes rough terrain, stubborn animals, or you’re just plain hard on your equipment, you need a fence that can take a beating. Kencove’s Sheep & Goat Netting is built for exactly those conditions. It’s typically taller (often 42 or 48 inches) and constructed with thicker, more rigid posts and high-quality conductors, designed to stand up to the daily rigors of farm life.

This is the netting you choose for its sheer toughness. The taller height and robust build make it an excellent choice for containing more athletic sheep breeds or for mixed-species grazing with goats. The heavy-duty posts sink in securely and resist bending, providing a stable fence line even on windswept hillsides or in challenging soil. It’s heavier to move, but that weight translates directly into durability and peace of mind.

Kencove netting is for the farmer who needs a durable, high-security fence and doesn’t mind the extra weight. If your top priorities are longevity and the ability to contain more challenging animals on tough ground, this is your best bet.

Powerfields P-89 Netting: High-Visibility Choice

The effectiveness of an electric fence is part physical barrier and part psychological deterrent. Powerfields P-89 Netting leans into the psychological side with its bright, highly visible colors—often a distinct orange or yellow. This makes the fence line stand out against a green pasture, helping your animals see and learn the boundary faster, which is especially useful when training a new flock or young, curious lambs.

This isn’t just about the animals; it’s about you, too. A brightly colored fence is easier to see from a distance, making it simple to do a quick visual check to ensure everything is upright and secure. It also adds a layer of safety, making the fence obvious to visitors or family members who might not be accustomed to navigating pastures with hot wires. The performance is solid, but the primary advantage is its unmissable presence.

Powerfields netting is for the farmer who wants to accelerate the training process or who values easy visual confirmation of their fence line. It’s an excellent choice for those introducing animals to electric fencing for the first time.

Premier 1 ElectroStop: For Goats and Jumpers

Some animals just don’t respect a standard fence. Whether you’re raising agile Katahdins, flighty Shetlands, or are running goats alongside your sheep, the Premier 1 ElectroStop is the high-security solution. At 42 or 48 inches tall, it presents a much more formidable visual and physical barrier than standard 35-inch sheep netting, immediately discouraging even the most determined jumpers.

The key to the ElectroStop is its design for containing notoriously difficult animals. The vertical struts are more rigid, and the horizontal lines are spaced to prevent animals from sticking their heads through and getting stuck. It’s a heavier and more expensive net, but it solves a very specific and frustrating problem: keeping escape artists contained. This is the fence you buy after another fence has failed.

The ElectroStop is for the farmer with high-flight animals or a mixed flock of sheep and goats. If you’ve ever spent an afternoon chasing escapees, the extra cost and weight of this net will feel like a bargain for the security it provides.

Choosing the Right Energizer for Your Netting

Your electric netting is useless without a powerful energizer, and this is not the place to cut corners. Netting, with its multiple horizontal lines close to the ground, requires a significantly stronger charger than a simple single-strand wire. The key is to buy a low-impedance energizer, which is designed to push a powerful shock through the resistance of grass and weeds that will inevitably touch the fence.

The power of an energizer is measured in joules. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 0.25 joules of output for every 164-foot roll of netting you plan to power. For two rolls, you’d want at least 0.5 joules; for four, a 1.0 joule energizer is a safe minimum. It’s always better to oversize your energizer slightly; a weak shock teaches animals to test the fence, while a strong, memorable shock teaches them to respect it from a distance.

You’ll also need to choose between power sources. AC-powered (plug-in) energizers are the most reliable and cost-effective if you have an outlet near your pastures. For remote fields, a solar-powered unit is your best bet. Modern solar energizers are incredibly reliable, but be sure to get a unit with a large enough solar panel and battery to keep your fence hot through several cloudy days.

Setup and Maintenance for Effective Grazing

The best netting in the world won’t work if it’s not set up correctly. The number one enemy of an electric fence is vegetation. Before you unroll your net, walk the intended fence line and mow or trim a path. Every blade of grass touching a hot wire drains a small amount of energy, and enough contact can ground out the fence completely, rendering it useless.

When setting up, focus on tension. Start by staking the first post securely, then walk out the net, placing posts as you go. Once the net is laid out, go back and pull it taut from the corners, using extra posts to brace them if needed. A sagging net not only looks sloppy but is also more likely to short out and less effective at deterring animals. Use a fence tester (a simple, inexpensive tool) to check the voltage regularly. You’re aiming for at least 3,000-4,000 volts; anything less means you have a short somewhere that needs to be fixed.

Moving the fence will become a quick chore with practice. A good system is to walk the line, pulling up the posts and laying them over the netting in the same direction. Then, starting from one end, roll the posts and netting together into a bundle. This keeps things organized and minimizes tangling for the next time you set it up. A little care during takedown saves a massive headache during the next setup.

Choosing the right electric netting is more than just buying a fence; it’s an investment in a smarter, more efficient grazing system. By matching the right product to your flock and your land, you can unlock healthier pastures, healthier animals, and a more sustainable farm. The flexibility and control it offers will fundamentally change the way you manage your land for the better.