Electric fencing is an effective way to control livestock and offers two advantages over other fencing.
One is cost. The cost to install a four-strand, barbed-wire fence is about $5,000 per mile. The cost to install a typical single-wire, electric fence is about $600 per mile. Additional wires are about 5 cents per foot.
The other advantage of electric fencing is its ease of construction, which improves forage management opportunities. Small pastures can enhance harvest efficiency and increase forage.