Physical backup comes first
Electric fencing works through learned avoidance. New pigs need a controlled training area where retreat—not forward escape—is the easy response. The secure outside boundary remains the backup if power, vegetation, grounding or training fails.
Secure perimeter
Continuous physical containment with ground gaps inspected.
Training pen
Small, observable area with a physical barrier behind the live line.
Inside offset
Low smooth conductor to reduce rooting and contact at the fence.
Pasture divisions
Flexible lines moved with grazing and soil-condition decisions.
The worked layout
The example uses 900 ft of secure perimeter plus a 180 ft permanent training pen. Gate openings total 24 ft. Temporary subdivision wire is excluded because its material, number of strands and moved length belong to a separate management schedule.
- Mark low ground, washouts, shaded rooting areas and gate thresholds.
- Keep feed and water away from places where pressure would concentrate at the fence.
- Give vehicles a clean route that does not weaken containment or biosecurity.
- Record contacts with wild pigs as a different risk from ordinary domestic containment.
Calculate the fixed physical line
This result is woven-wire length only. It does not count gates, posts, braces, apron or buried details, electric conductors, energizer, grounding, temporary subdivision or wildlife-exclusion work.
Replace the assumptions
A live line needs a routine
Train pigs before turnout, test the fence at representative points, and keep vegetation from grounding low conductors. During routine checks, walk gates, corners, low ground and any place where pigs are rooting or congregation is visible.
After storms, animal contact, maintenance or unexplained voltage loss, inspect immediately. A written biosecurity plan should also address visitors, equipment, animal introductions and possible wildlife contact.
