Contain stock & repair fence

4 posts

Member for

8 years
Last seen: 03/19/2016 - 14:16
Joined: 03/19/2016 - 13:35

Contain stock & repair fence

Hi

We have owned our place for 25+ years & farm cattle. Our boundary fences are a mix of plain, barbed & electric & keep our cattle in. 

New neighbours came 2. years ago & have bought thousands of crossbred sheep. The sheep have eaten out their home, & are now invading us & all their other neighbours. We have between 10 & 50 sheep to chase out nearly every day. They run back to the fence where they pushed through. The fence needs to have hinge_joint fencing attached to  what is there. The sheep_owners say they will fix it but nothing happens. They are making new internal fences but not fixing the boundary fence. All the neighbours are angry about this. I have been trying to find a Govt Dept that has a rule about this. We are being eaten out & are now hand feeding our stock.

Please help!

Jan

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 10/22/2012 - 11:13
If you have exhausted all "nice" ways you could always call the pound next time they invade. It will not make for good neighbourly relations but they don't seem too worried to be good neighbours either. One encounter with the pound will bring them to reality. Cheers Rob.
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 02/26/2015 - 13:47

Hello Jan,

 

Barb's point will certianly bring matters to a head and it's extremely frustrating when people do not take their responsibilities as they should. 

 

Could I suggest a slightly different approach (that has a mix of Barb's idea).

 

1). yard the intruders and advise the neighbours to come and collect them. This way you are confronting them on your turf with them being forced to collect the evidence of your unhappiness. 

 

2) When discussing it (again) with the neighbours advise them that you'll yard them and call the loacl pound / ranger if it happens again. They cannot complain about your approach which is fair and reasonable.

 

Good Luck

 

PBN

 

Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 05/31/2015 - 10:27
Hi Jan, You would be aware that the cost to replace boundary fencing is equally shared between both property owners. Legally the fence must be of a standard to restrict livestock from passing through, so although your cattle are contained I believe the neighbours could argue that the fencing is inadequate and requires replacing, or upgrading. For an instant and cheap temporary option perhaps an electric wire run low where the sheep are coming through? It is a substantial investment of time and effort to have to chase your neighbours livestock out each day, your frustration is justified, furthermore by the monetary cost of having to substitute pasture that the offending sheep are consuming. If you wanted to be recalcitrant you could bill them for the feed you are purchasing for your own stock, or let them know what the lease will be for the paddock their sheep continue to inhabit. I'm not sure I like your chances! It sounds like they have overstocked their land, could be animal welfare issues involved. My final advice would be honesty and clear direct communication with them before getting officials involved.

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