Do the Gallagher check

Avoid problems with electric fencing Do the Gallagher check

Is my fencing still up to the job? With the grazing season just around the corner, it’s wise to ask yourself this question. Identify a problem now and you could end up saving yourself a whole load of problems. Gallagher, the global market leader in electric fencing, has a tool that you’ll fi nd very useful when checking your fencing.

It’s vital to keep an eye on your electric fencing. “You might think that once it’s been put up there’s nothing else you need to do, but that’s not the case”, says Leon Blom, an account manager at Gallagher Europe. “We recommend that customers regularly take time out to check their fencing. Nine times out of ten they’ll find something that needs improving.”

Grazing season The perfect time to check your fencing is just before the grazing season starts and animals return to the fields. “This is good advice if you have grazing stock”, Blom confirms. “However, our fencing is also used to keep animals out, like wolves and boars. In this situation, it’s worth doing the Gallagher check at regular intervals throughout the year.”

Blom summarises a number of things that are important to look out for when doing a check. “Firstly, the earthing. This turns out to be the cause of problems in many cases. The substrate is an important factor here. For example, how easily the earthing resistance required is achieved will depend a lot on whether you have sandy or clay soil. It’s also important to check that all of your connectors are still intact and that there are no short-circuits

“The safety of animals and people is key”

anywhere (due to the extra resistance created by vegetation, for example). Finally, it’s good to check your power source – a battery, mains electricity or solar panels. In the case of solar panels: check that they are able to generate the power you need throughout the year.”

Solutions Because there are a number of reasons why your fencing might not be working (properly), Gallagher has put together a number of steps for you to run through in the Gallagher Check. “We have a video on our website that shows how to do the Gallagher Check”, says Blom. “After downloading a handy PDF file, customers will find it easy to do the check themselves. In many cases, they’ll find that this solves any problems they might be experiencing. If not, they can contact one of our dealers or our Customer Services team for help.”

Blom says that ruling out possible causes is often the best way to get to the root of a problem. “Sometimes it will be something simple and you’ll be able to pinpoint it very quickly. Other times, it will be more difficult, usually because of local factors.” Problems are always resolved in the end, which is important. “Everyone wants to be sure that their animals are going to stay safely in their fields. If a horse finds its way out onto a road, the consequences could be disastrous. The safety of animals and people is key. So, don’t forget to check your fencing.”