Farm Fencing for Alpacas
8 Jan 2019 Farm Fencing
As the demand for natural fibres and textiles has grown in past years, alpaca farming has risen in popularity. Alpacas are valuable animals, so it is important to know how to construct enclosures that can keep them safe and content. Edge Wholesale Direct offers a variety of options for farm fencing for alpacas that will provide your herd with proper security. Its farm fencing and shelters and pens are designed to provide value and ease of use to livestock farmers across BC and Alberta.
How to Construct an Alpaca Enclosure
Alpaca fencing is designed for two purposes: to keep the alpacas in their pasture and to deter predators. If an alpaca enclosure is being constructed in an area where bears or wolves are present, it is best to build a fence that stands at least five feet tall. Although wooden board fencing works well for enclosing adult alpacas, the separation between boards allows predators to crawl through. For this reason, using no-climb fencing is the best option. Tensile wire fencing is another decent option, as long as enough strands are used to prevent predators from squeezing between the wires. Barbed wire fencing should be avoided, as it can damage the alpacas and their valuable fleeces.
An alpaca enclosure should contain a healthy amount of grazing space and have gates to allow the alpacas to move from the barn or shelter to the pasture. Providing a shelter of some sort is vital to growing a healthy alpaca herd, as the animals will need shade in the summer and shielding from wind and precipitation in the winter. Alpaca shelters do not need to be complex; a simple three-sided wind shelter with a roof is good enough for most environments, depending on the size of the herd. It is a good idea to include a dry lot that does not have grazing ground as part of your alpaca enclosure. The dry lot should be fenced and gated to keep it separated from the grazing pasture. This will allow you to shear or deworm your alpacas without polluting their grazing ground.
If you would like to learn more about the best types of farm fencing for alpacas, or if you are interested in any of Edge Wholesale Direct’s products, contact Edge Wholesale Direct at 604-857-2496.
