Posted: Feb. 24, 2010
By Tracy Dewhirst
Posted: Feb. 24, 2010
Q: I am considering getting some goats but do not want to install labor intensive fencing. Do you think the invisible underground electric fence and shock collar would work for goats?
A: The Invisible Fence was originally designed for dogs, and it works in a manner that coordinates with the way dogs learn. With that being said, the Invisible Fence has been used successfully with other species including cats, pot-bellied pigs and goats. The collar gives an alert signal if the animal approaches the fence line, if the warning is ignored and the animal continues the collar then delivers a vibrating correction.
Goats are bright animals and can be trained to do all sorts of unusual things, but remember that all training is individual and variable. Each goat will need to be trained to the perimeter of the fence, have the correction level adjusted, and be observed to make sure they stay within the confines of the system. While the Invisible Fence is highly successful, not all animals can be contained with electric collar fencing. And cost is a consideration since each animal requires a collar.
There are no scientific studies to show the accuracy of the fence system when used with goats; the available information is only antidotal. Invisible Fence Company in Knoxville did verify that goat owners have successfully used their system to contain goats, and a paper published in Applied Animal Behavior Science used electric collars to contain goats for mobile grazing purposes in a 1989 study.
The term "Houdini" is often used when describing goats and is quite accurate because these intelligent animals will find their way out of any small imperfection in a fencing system, especially if they are not content with their food supply. Goat owners that use traditional electric fence will tell you that the moment the power to the fence is "off" the goats realize and quickly escape, this would be similar with an electric collar system.
My primary concern for using anything other than an electric woven wire fence for goats and sheep is the safety of the animals. Goats, especially smaller breeds like the Nigerian dwarf, are easy targets for predators and in our area that includes coyotes and bands of domestic dogs in rural areas. The electric collar system may keep your goats contained but it will not prevent predator attacks.
There are options for fencing that are not labor intensive. The temporary electric netting is a woven fence that is easy to install and can be moved if you want to change location. Since this netting is fully electric is keeps predators out. Traditional woven wire needs two electric hot wires added, one on the bottom of the fence for protection against dogs and one at the goat's head height to keep them from destroying the fence.
There are two Web sites I would recommend you visit to help you in your fencing research, www.premier1supplies.com and www.invisiblefence.com
Dr. Tracy Dewhirst is a freelance contributor to the News Sentinel.
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