Conductor Material: Polywire, Polyrope, Tape and Wire for Your Fence

Conductor Material: The Current Path Along Your Pasture

The conductor material is the part of the fence your animals see and touch. It carries the pulses from the energizer along the whole length of the paddock. How well it does this depends on the number of conductors and on the metal used, such as stainless steel, copper or aluminium. With us you will find polywire, polyrope, polytape and wire for every type of fence, plus the right connectors for clean joins.

Which Conductor for Which Animal?

For horses, visibility matters most: wide tape or thick rope stands out and stops a horse running into the fence while playing. Rope copes better with wind than tape, which makes it a good choice for long runs. Polywire is light and quick to unroll, so it is popular for cattle, sheep and strip grazing. Wire made of steel or aluminium is the choice for permanent fences that are meant to stand for many years.

Conductivity and Clean Connections

The more and the thicker the conductors inside polywire, rope or tape, the lower the resistance. This pays off above all on long fences. Clean joins are just as important: a knot worsens the contact and can cause the fine metal strands to break. With suitable connectors for tape, rope and polywire you join pieces permanently and with good conductivity.

Frequently asked questions

Polywire, rope or tape: which is best for horses?
Tape and rope are far more visible to horses than thin polywire. Rope is tougher in wind and snow, while tape acts as a stronger visual barrier thanks to its width. Many horse owners combine both.

How many strands does an electric fence need?
For horses and cattle, two to three strands are usually enough. For sheep and goats it is generally four or more conductors set close together, or an electric net instead. Low strands need regular mowing so that grass does not drain the current.

Can I mix different conductors in one fence?
Yes, for example tape at the top for visibility and polywire below. What matters is that all strands are well connected to each other, ideally with connecting leads at the start and the end.