Building fences for shepherds, farmers and schoolchildren in South Tyrol

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South Tyrol recently experienced two intensive weeks of courses: First, our instructors were at work at the Salern technical college to teach prospective shepherds how to build fences that are suitable for herd protection as part of their vocational training. Over two course days, all the basics were discussed, from electrification to various net and strand fences, and the construction of net and strand fences in difficult terrain was practiced, as was the construction of night pens and the upgrading of existing fences.

The pupils in the second year of the agricultural college in Salern also spent a day learning about the importance of fence construction for livestock protection.

A week later, two herd protection courses for farmers took place: Once at the Portahof farm in Schleis, on the farm’s beautiful organic pastures and on those of its neighbor Alexander Agethle. On the second day, we were again guests at the Herd Protection Competence Center Fachschule Salern. The main focus of these courses was to improve the electric fence, which every farmer thinks they know, so that it is most effective in terms of both herding safety and livestock protection. It is often small things, such as old insulators or poor strand connections, that cost the crucial kilovolts of voltage. A sufficiently high voltage across the entire fence is essential, whether you want to keep cattle in the pasture or predators out. Correct wire spacing and careful positioning of the fence also determine whether a fence protects Livestock from predators in addition to its herding effect. It is particularly important for livestock protection to consider and build a fence from the outside in, a process that requires some rethinking.

All in all, two eventful weeks with lots of great course participants and many new insights. We hope that many of them will put these into practice in the summer, for the benefit of our Livestock!