Quick Answer
Avoid wood fencing for: goats and pigs (they destroy it), any acreage over 10–20 acres (prohibitive cost), operations with limited maintenance labor, areas with high moisture or termite pressure, and any situation where cost-per-foot matters more than aesthetics. In these scenarios, wire fence outperforms wood in every metric: containment, durability, cost, and maintenance requirement.
Goats and Pigs
These two species are the primary destroyers of wood fencing. Goats chew the edges of boards, stand on rails, and push against posts until they lean. Within 3–5 years of active goat use, typical board fence requires extensive board replacement. Pigs root along the fence base, undermining posts and pushing boards off at the bottom. Neither species should be contained in pure wood fence — always add electric wire reinforcement.
Large Acreage Economics
At $10–$20 per linear foot professionally installed, fencing 40 acres with board fence costs $132,000–$264,000 — an amount that could buy land, equipment, or buildings. High-tensile electric for the same property runs $8,000–$25,000. The economic case for wood fence on large acreage simply doesn't work, and wire fence equals or exceeds wood fence for containment in most livestock applications.
High-Moisture Environments
In consistently wet climates (Pacific Northwest, Gulf Coast, Florida), wood fence in ground contact deteriorates rapidly — even treated posts may fail in 10–12 years rather than the expected 20–25. The combination of high humidity, fungal growth, and freeze-thaw cycling accelerates decay. In these regions, concrete posts, steel T-posts, or fiberglass posts combined with wire may outlast wood fence at lower cost.
Termite-Active Areas
In the southern US, where Formosan termites are active, untreated wood fence posts and boards are vulnerable to rapid destruction. Treated lumber (UC4B rating minimum) provides protection but extends only 15–20 years even against subterranean termites. In high-termite areas, steel or concrete posts are preferable for the long-term structure.
Our Recommendation
Use wood fence only where it provides specific value that wire cannot: horse facility aesthetics, high-visibility areas, or as a psychological barrier for animals that respond to solid fence sightlines. For all other applications, wire fence is the superior practical choice. If you're considering wood for the entire farm, limit it to the first 200–500 feet from the road and use wire for the balance of the property.