Fencing

What is it?

Fences are important tools for controlling livestock. They define and separate ranches and farms, outline property boundaries, enclose pastures and rangelands, separate livestock from wildlife, and prevent livestock from straying onto highways. There are many different types of fences to meet the various needs of different farms.

In Alberta, there are several pieces of legislation related to fences on farmland [1]:  

• Stray Animals Act – a landowner is responsible for keeping their livestock fenced in on their property. The livestock owner is responsible for any damage caused by their animals trespassing on another property.  
• Line Fence Act – If both landowners benefit from the fence (i.e. have livestock on their land), they should share the associated costs, including erection, maintenance, and repair. If one landowner requires additional work to the fence above what is normal, they are responsible for the additional cost.  

Additionally, fences can be used as a tool for fence-line weaning. This process involves using a fence to separate the cow and calf pairs. This allows them to still see, hear, and smell each other but prevents the calves from nursing.

Challenges

• Fences are expensive to build, especially as they must cover a very large area. Therefore, fences are typically mended rather than building new ones if possible. This constant maintenance can be time intensive, and any failures may allow the livestock to get loose.
• Fences are typically shared with neighbours. While this can help reduce the costs associated with maintaining them, it can also cause issues between neighbours. Additionally, it is a producer’s responsibility to keep their livestock in, and not the responsibility of their neighbours to keep the livestock out.