8 Electric Netting Options for Rotational Grazing on Small Farms

Rotational grazing on a small acreage transforms tired pastures into lush, highly productive forage zones while naturally breaking parasite cycles. Keeping diverse livestock contained and predators out requires a fencing system that is both highly secure and incredibly easy to move. Electric netting provides the ultimate solution for part-time farmers who need to build reliable paddock shifts into their weekly routines.

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Understanding Electric Netting for Rotational Grazing

Rotational grazing relies on moving animals to fresh pasture before they overgraze and damage the forage root systems. Traditional permanent fencing is too costly and rigid for small-scale operations that need to adapt paddock sizes on the fly. Electric netting solves this by combining physical visibility with a sharp psychological deterrent, allowing a single person to set up a new paddock in under twenty minutes.

The system functions as a portable circuit. When an animal touches the energized horizontal strands, the current passes through their body into the earth, returning to the fence energizer to deliver a memorable, harmless shock. To make this system work, a reliable fence energizer (solar, battery, or AC plug-in) and proper grounding rods are absolute necessities; without them, the netting is merely a loose plastic clothesline that livestock will quickly destroy.

How to Choose the Right Mesh Size for Your Livestock

Selecting the wrong grid spacing is the most common mistake new homesteaders make, often resulting in escaped stock or tangled animals. Smaller animals like poultry, rabbits, and young kids require tight spacing near the ground to prevent them from slipping through or getting their heads trapped. Larger livestock, such as cattle and horses, only need a few strategically placed horizontal strands to respect the boundary.

Look closely at the numbers used in netting names, which typically indicate the number of horizontal strands, the height in inches, and the spacing of vertical struts. A narrower vertical strut spacing (such as 3-inch or 6-inch) keeps the net rigid and prevents sagging, which is critical for uneven terrain. Wider spacing (like 12-inch) is lighter and easier to carry but requires highly tensioned corner posts to prevent drooping.

Goat Netting – Premier 1 ElectroNet 9/35/12

Goats are notorious for testing boundaries, using their heads to pry open gaps and their hooves to climb standard wire. The role of specialized goat netting is to present a vertical barrier that cannot be climbed while delivering a shock intense enough to penetrate thick coats. Without a high-visibility, energized grid, goats will quickly turn pasture rotation into a frustrating game of hide-and-seek.

The Premier 1 ElectroNet 9/35/12 is designed specifically to counter these stubborn caprine habits. At 35 inches tall with 9 horizontal strands, it strikes the perfect balance between lightweight portability and reliable containment. The 12-inch vertical strut spacing makes the roll lighter to carry across hilly pastures, while the built-in plastic posts with heavy-duty metal spikes sink easily into tough soil.

• Height: 35 inches
• Length: 100 feet or 120 feet rolls
• Strand Configuration: 9 horizontal strands (8 energized)
• Best For: Standard dairy goats, meat goats, and calf containment

Keep in mind that the 35-inch height requires a well-trained herd; exceptionally flighty breeds or active kids may require a taller 42-inch option. Because goats have insulating hair, this netting must be paired with an energizer rating of at least 0.25 joules per roll to ensure they actually feel the pulse. This net is ideal for small-scale sheep and goat keepers who move pasture weekly, but it is not recommended for predator-heavy areas where coyotes can easily jump a 35-inch line.

Poultry Netting – Premier 1 PoultryNet 12/48/3

Poultry are vulnerable to a wide array of ground predators, from foxes to neighborhood dogs, and their small size means they can easily slip through standard livestock fencing. Poultry netting must create a dense, tall physical grid that keeps birds contained while preventing predators from squeezing through or jumping over. It acts as a mobile run, allowing meat birds or laying hens to safely clear fresh patches of grass and bugs.

The Premier 1 PoultryNet 12/48/3 features an incredibly tight 3-inch by 3-inch mesh pattern at the bottom, which graduates to larger openings near the top. Standing 48 inches tall, it prevents most domestic poultry from fluttering over while keeping ground-dwelling predators at bay. The close vertical spacing keeps the net taut and upright, reducing the sagging that often plagues cheaper, wider-mesh alternatives.

• Height: 48 inches
• Length: 100 feet rolls
• Strand Configuration: 12 horizontal strands (11 energized)
• Best For: Chickens, ducks, geese, and predator exclusion

Because the bottom strands are so close to the ground, this netting is highly susceptible to voltage leaks from growing grass. Regular mowing along the fence line or using a powerful, low-impedance energizer is mandatory to prevent the battery from draining rapidly. This product is the gold standard for backyard egg producers and pastured broiler operations, but it is too heavy and cumbersome for those managing larger livestock.

Sheep Netting – Starkline Double Spike Electric Netting

Sheep are heavily insulated by their fleece, making them largely immune to mild electric shocks unless the current contacts their sensitive noses, ears, or legs. A sheep-specific net must hold its shape perfectly to ensure the animal makes contact with the energized strands rather than pushing under a sagging section. It also needs to be exceptionally stable to withstand the occasional nudge from a crowded flock.

The Starkline Double Spike Electric Netting stands out due to its heavy-duty fiberglass posts featuring dual-pronged metal spikes at the base. This double-spike design provides superior stability in windy pastures or soft, loose soils, preventing the net from leaning and shorting out on the pasture. The horizontal lines utilize highly conductive stainless steel filaments woven into UV-stabilized polyethylene, ensuring a strong shock passes even into wooly coats.

• Height: 35 or 40 inches
• Length: 164 feet rolls
• Post Type: Double-prong fiberglass posts
• Best For: Sheep, lambs, and medium-sized livestock

While the double spikes offer excellent stability in soft ground, they can be incredibly frustrating to insert and extract in hard, dry, or rocky soils where a single spike is much easier to maneuver. Sheep must be trained to the fence in a secure paddock first, as a panicked, untrained sheep may crash through and become entangled. This netting is excellent for homesteaders grazing sheep on rolling, soft-soil pastures, but less suited for arid, rocky regions.

Hog Netting – Premier 1 PigQuik 4/30/12

Pigs do not jump, but they are powerful rooters that will use their strong snouts to lift, push, or dig under standard fencing. Hog netting does not need to be tall, but it must have highly energized lower strands to intercept a pig’s snout before it begins digging. A low-profile, highly portable design is essential for forest paddock rotation where low branches make tall netting impractical.

The Premier 1 PigQuik 4/30/12 is a specialized 30-inch-tall net featuring only 4 horizontal strands, making it incredibly lightweight and fast to deploy. Because pigs have sensitive, hairless snouts, they respect electric fences quickly, allowing this simplified design to work flawlessly without the extra weight of a dense mesh. The wide 12-inch vertical spacing reduces wind resistance and makes the roll highly compact for transport in a utility vehicle.

• Height: 30 inches
• Length: 100 feet rolls
• Strand Configuration: 4 horizontal strands
• Best For: Feeder pigs, breeding sows, and forest grazing

A key operational challenge with pigs is their habit of shoveling dirt onto the bottom wire while rooting, which can quickly short out the entire fence line. Regular inspection is required to clear soil and debris from the lower strands to maintain a hot charge. This netting is perfect for small-scale forest pork production, but it should never be used to contain sheep, goats, or poultry, which can easily slip through the wide horizontal gaps.

Predator Netting – Gallagher Turbo Sheppard Netting

When grazing livestock in remote pastures or areas with high wildlife activity, the fence must serve as both a container and a fortress. Standard electric netting can sometimes drop in voltage over long distances, allowing fast-moving predators like coyotes or stray dogs to breach the line. Predator netting requires ultra-conductive materials that deliver a sudden, maximum-intensity shock to stop a predator in its tracks.

Gallagher Turbo Sheppard Netting utilizes advanced Turbo wire, which blends stainless steel and copper filaments to deliver up to 40 times more conductivity than standard polywire. This ensures that even at the far end of a multi-net setup, the voltage remains high enough to deter determined predators. The heavy-duty vertical struts keep the net rigid, preventing sagging that predators could exploit to jump over.

• Height: 40 inches
• Length: 164 feet rolls
• Conductivity: Turbo wire with copper/steel mix
• Best For: High-predator zones, multi-net perimeter setups, and sheep/goat protection

Because of the highly conductive copper filaments, this netting is more expensive than standard polyethylene options, representing a significant investment for large setups. It also demands a high-output energizer (at least 1 to 2 joules) to fully utilize its low-resistance design. This product is the ultimate insurance policy for farmers grazing vulnerable stock near wooded edges, but it is over-engineered for simple backyard setups with low predator pressure.

Rabbit Netting – Starkline Electric Rabbit Netting

Rabbits are small, low-profile, and incredibly fast, making them a unique challenge to contain or exclude from garden zones. Standard livestock netting has gaps far too wide for a rabbit, which will simply hop through without touching the energized wires. Rabbit netting must feature an ultra-dense grid pattern close to the ground to ensure contact is made before they can squeeze through.

The Starkline Electric Rabbit Netting is designed with a highly compact mesh structure, standing at a manageable 20 to 24 inches tall. This low profile makes it exceptionally easy to step over for daily chores while keeping the weight of the roll minimal. The tight spacing of the lower horizontal strands ensures that even small wild rabbits or domestic kits cannot penetrate the perimeter without receiving a clear deterrent.

• Height: 20 or 24 inches
• Length: 50 or 164 feet rolls
• Mesh Spacing: Tight bottom grid (approx. 2×2 inches)
• Best For: Pastured rabbits, garden protection, and small pet containment

Because this netting sits so low to the ground and has highly concentrated bottom wires, vegetation management is critical. Even short weeds or damp grass touching the lower grid will bleed power from the system, rendering it ineffective. It is the perfect tool for protecting high-value vegetable plots or managing pastured meat rabbits, but it offers zero protection against climbing or jumping predators.

Cattle Netting – Premier 1 CowNet 10/48/12

While adult cattle are easily contained by a single strand of energized polywire, calves are highly prone to slipping under single-wire setups, separating themselves from their mothers. This separation causes stress, pasture damage, and vulnerability to predators. Cattle netting provides a highly visible, multi-strand physical barrier that keeps both cows and calves safely grouped during tight rotational shifts.

The Premier 1 CowNet 10/48/12 stands 48 inches tall with 10 horizontal strands, offering an imposing visual barrier that cattle quickly learn to respect. The wide 12-inch vertical strut spacing keeps the net lightweight, which is crucial when moving long runs of fence across expansive pastures. It features high-visibility white and black strands, ensuring livestock can easily see the boundary even in low-light conditions.

• Height: 48 inches
• Length: 150 feet rolls
• Strand Configuration: 10 horizontal strands
• Best For: Cow-calf pairs, heifers, and training young cattle to electric fence

Setting up 48-inch netting requires more physical effort than shorter sheep or hog nets, especially when navigating uneven terrain or brush. It is highly recommended to use rigid corner posts to keep the ends from bowing under the tension of the long span. This net is an excellent choice for small-scale beef or dairy operations managing cow-calf pairs, but it is unnecessary and overly expensive for those grazing only mature, well-trained adult cattle.

Horse Netting – Premier 1 HorseQuik 4/48/24

Horses are flight animals with thin skin and a tendency to panic and run through barriers they cannot easily see. Standard thin-wire electric netting poses a severe entanglement and cutting hazard to a spooked horse. Horse netting must prioritize extreme visibility, using wide, highly conductive tapes that clearly define the boundary while remaining easy to dismantle for rotational grazing.

The Premier 1 HorseQuik 4/48/24 addresses these safety concerns by utilizing wide, high-visibility poly-tape strands instead of thin polywire. Standing 48 inches tall with 4 horizontal lines spaced widely apart, it provides a clear visual signal that horses respect from a distance. The 24-inch vertical strut spacing makes the fence incredibly quick to wind up and move, reducing the labor of paddock rotation.

• Height: 48 inches
• Length: 100 feet rolls
• Strand Type: Wide, high-visibility poly-tape
• Best For: Horses, mules, and large, sensitive livestock

Because of the wide tape design, this netting acts like a sail in high winds, requiring sturdy, well-anchored end posts to prevent the entire line from blowing over. It is also not designed to contain small livestock, as sheep, goats, or pigs can easily walk through the wide gaps between the horizontal strands. This is the premier choice for horse owners needing temporary grazing paddocks or trail-riding enclosures, but it should never be used as a multi-species barrier.

Essential Tips for Setting Up Your Electric Netting

A successful electric netting setup begins with pasture preparation. Before unrolling a single foot of net, walk the intended path and mow down any tall weeds or brush that will touch the live horizontal strands. Wet vegetation dragging on the fence will quickly drain your energizer’s voltage, turning a highly secure barrier into an inert piece of plastic that animals will walk over.

When driving the posts, always start by securing the corners and ends first. Standard netting posts are flexible, so they will bow inward under tension unless you use rigid support posts or tie-outs at the corners to keep the line taut. Use a step-in motion to drive the metal spikes straight into the ground, ensuring the bottom strand remains suspended just above the soil surface without touching it.

Finally, never underestimate the power of a proper ground system. Use three galvanized ground rods spaced ten feet apart, connected to your energizer with heavy-duty hookup wire. A weak ground is the primary reason for a weak shock; if your animals are ignoring the fence, check your ground rods before assuming the netting or the energizer is faulty.

Maintaining and Storing Your Netting for Longevity

Electric netting is a significant investment that can last for many seasons if handled with care, or become a tangled, useless mess in a single afternoon of careless handling. The secret to longevity is the method of rolling and unrolling. When taking down a fence, gather all the posts together in one hand while letting the netting fold back and forth like an accordion, then tie the bundle securely near the spikes.

Store your folded netting off the ground in a dry, rodent-free area during the off-season. Mice and rats find the polyethylene strands appealing for nesting material and can quickly chew through multiple layers of a rolled net, leaving you with dozens of broken strands come spring. Hanging the bundled rolls from heavy-duty hooks or rafters is the best way to keep them safe from pests and moisture.

Before redeploying the netting each spring, conduct a thorough inspection for broken filaments or damaged plastic struts. Small breaks in the conductive metal wires can be repaired using simple brass sleeves or by tying a proper reef knot to restore electrical continuity. Taking the time to patch minor wear and tear ensures your rotational grazing system remains reliable and secure year after year.

Mastering rotational grazing on a small farm is a rewarding journey that pays dividends in soil health and animal vitality. By matching the right electric netting to your specific livestock needs, you eliminate the stress of escapes and predator intrusions. Invest in quality gear, maintain a strong charge, and watch your pastures thrive.