Q&A for How to Build a Livestock Fence

If using 8' posts (5-6" round), set them 2' deep spaced about 12 feet apart for pasture; 8 feet can also be used. Shorter spacing will be needed in areas that receive higher traffic or more pressure from the animals.

It depends in the size of the posts you want to use. The standard fence post that's going to be used is 8-ft 5-6" round & tapered, treated. Sinking them around 2 to 3 feet into the ground will allow about 5 to 6 ft of remaining height. The top wire then could be about 48 to 52 inches above the ground.

Plastic insulators you can insert a nail into to hammer into the post and attach the wire into are your best options. Your local farm supply store should have these.

If the fence is stockproof, then no. However, the cows can reach across and access anything they can reach upwards, such as okra, sunflowers and fruit trees.

The wire should go on the inside of the enclosure to keep animals in. If you're keeping animals out, the wire should be put on the outside. So if you're standing on your property, yes, the wire should be installed on your side.

Build the wing or funnel at a 30 degree angle out from the gate using temporary panels, permanent posts and wire (if you wish to leave it permanent); or electric mesh or tape (if you want to put it up and take it down as needed). Depending on the size of the herd, a funnel fence can be anywhere from 10 feet long to over 30 yards.

Average for a fence is 6" or 8" thick and 8 ft long.

It likely won't. Goats are browsers as well as grazers, so they may eat their way out of the fence, especially if the brush used as fencing is edible, and it's not thick or tall enough to keep them in. You're better off using a netting-type electric fence or paige wire rather than trying shrubbery to keep goats in - but you could try first.

Refer to the Things You'll Need section at the end of the article.

Rent or borrow a tractor with forks, or a bobcat/skidsteer. They are only $100-200 per day and can save you a lot of sweat, not to mention it is much safer to handle heavy loads with machinery.

The corners will be slightly harder to build. Other than that, there's probably no reason not to.

An 8" hole would allow gravel to fill in around the post.