Rural fences need to be solid and durable to sustain impacts from other animals, weather and other environmental factors.

Fencing is essential for keeping your livestock in or out of certain places. Because of this, you should choose the best fencing materials available. Some people even invest in the electric fence as an added security measure. The installation prices depend on the type of fence you choose.

Average rural fencing cost per metre

Type of fence

Average price per metre

Wire mesh

$5 to $15

Woven wire

$8

Chain link

$50 to $80

Pine

$5 to $25

Electric wire

$50 to $120

Types of rural fences

There are a wide range of budget and expensive materials used for rural fencing.

Aluminium fencing

Aluminium fencing is known to be highly durable. It also requires low maintenance since it does not rust easily. Compared to other fencing materials such as wood fences, it has a long life span, which might need replacement after a few years due to normal wear and tear. This type of fencing material is excellent for many rural fencing needs as rural fencing cost is reduced. Many cattle farms in Australia use aluminium fencing to keep their animals from straying off.

Cattle chain link fencing

Some livestock owners prefer using chain link metal fences because they are cheap and easy to install. They are also suitable fencing materials for rural use due to their durability and strength of wire. The downside is that they require much maintenance, hence incurring labour costs. If you do not take care of this type of fence, it might end up giving way and allowing your animals to escape.

Electric fencing

This type of fencing material sends an electrical pulse through the wure whenever an animal touches it. This acts as a deterrent because most animals can feel the electricity in their bodies and be scared off by the sudden energy sent through the electric fence wire. Electric fencing is cheap per meter but requires time and money[extra cost] to maintain since you need someone who knows how to work with electric fences on your farm to keep animals away from fenced areas and reduce fire risk. It also needs batteries so that it can function adequately during power outages.

Wood fencing

Wood fencing is another common choice in many parts of the world due to its affordable cost and easy installation. However, they are not as durable compared to aluminium or steel fences. Depending on weather conditions, they can last for up to 5 years before requiring repairs or replacement. Wood fencing needs a lot of maintenance since it quickly rots in damp areas. It is not made of steel posts, but it is an excellent fence design choice for rural use if kept dry.

Chain link metal fence

Chain link metal fencing materials are another cheap type of rural fencing easily installed. They are durable, and some models are made from galvanized steel, which prevents the internal fence from rusting. The downside is that chain link fences do not provide privacy to the livestock owner, who must constantly watch over their animals or install security cameras to monitor them. Chain link fences with concrete posts are also accessible for domestic animals to climb up, making them unsafe in some situations.

High tensile wire fencing

This is one of the most popular rural fencing materials due to its affordability, durability, and fencing cost per meter. It requires less upkeep than most fence materials since it does not require any painting or polishing like wood fencing and internal fences do. High tensile woven wire fencing is usually made from galvanized steel, and it can last for up to 15 years. Like other types of rural fences, high tensile wire fences need to be installed by licensed professionals who know how to work correctly and provide the best security.

Barbed wire fencing

This is a good fencing material for rural use because it can be easily installed around fields or pastures. It does not require any special skills to install, making it perfect for livestock owners who are not experts in maintaining fences. However, barbed wire fencing needs much more upkeep than other types of rural fencing materials since the sharp barbs might need to be replaced after being stretched out or cut by animals trying to get in or out of the field hence higher total cost. It also provides very little security against predators since they can easily chew through this type of fence that doesn't have a hinge lock.

What is the cheapest livestock fence?

The cheapest rural fencing cost type of farm fences is, surprisingly enough, barbed farm fencing wire fencing. This type of fencing material is affordable because it requires very little maintenance, and it does not have to be installed by a trained professional. It is also easy for farmers with no experience maintaining farm fence posts style to install around their pastures or fields without any problems. However, this kind of rural fencing has several downsides that you should consider before using it as farm fences. Barbed wire rustic barriers are easily broken by giant animals, making them unsuitable when there are predators or feral animals around since they can squeeze through the holes left in the fence after an attack.

How do I install rural fencing?

There are many factors to consider before installing boundary fences is where you will put them. A new fence should be installed around pastures or other areas where your livestock spend most of their time. You will need to install a boundary fence or paling fence intermediate posts by digging holes large enough to fit them and filling the gap with rocks or concrete. Depending on what fencing material you are using, the installation process will vary slightly.

For example, high tensile wire fences can be installed using sturdy material by stringing metal wire between two sets of concrete posts. The bottom of these wire grids should be buried about 15 cm into the ground so that animals cannot dig underneath it and escape.

The Western Australia state government has a handy guide to fencing for beginners.

How do I sink an agricultural fencing post?

The best way to sink fence steel posts, especially in rugged terrain, is by using a metal post digger. You can rent these tools at most rental stores for a reasonable price, making it an inexpensive option to install rural fencing. These versatile tools are made of metal, and they have two tines at one end that you use to dig holes in the ground and into clay soils. The tines are sharp enough to penetrate through grass or other types of soil readily but not so strong as to damage the wire mesh you attach them to later on. To ensure proper installation, ensure each fence post is placed away from various obstacles such as rocks or large roots that might interfere with your fence's quality or cause it to fall over if there is too much weight resting on one side of it.