Watering Options for Your Watering Options for Your Grazing SystemGrazing System

2011 Georgia Grazing School2011 Georgia Grazing School

John W. WorleyJohn W. Worley

Watering SystemsWatering Systems

Provide water in all locationsProvide water in all locations

Provide adequate watering spaceProvide adequate watering space

Provide adequate flow and pressureProvide adequate flow and pressure

Remember safety and sanitationRemember safety and sanitation

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

““The Creek”The Creek”Fencing across a creek is always a challengeFencing across a creek is always a challenge

Damage to creek banks impair water qualityDamage to creek banks impair water quality

Mechanical Watering SystemsMechanical Watering Systems

AdvantagesAdvantages– Put the water where you want itPut the water where you want it– Improve water quality (for the cows Improve water quality (for the cows

and the neighbors)and the neighbors)

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mechanical Watering SystemsMechanical Watering Systems

DisadvantagesDisadvantages– Cost (especially for multiple units)Cost (especially for multiple units)– Availability of power for pumpingAvailability of power for pumping– Mud around waterersMud around waterers

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Place Waterer across fence to Place Waterer across fence to provide access from both sidesprovide access from both sides

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Make sure adequate space is Make sure adequate space is available from either sideavailable from either side– One bowl for each 15 cowsOne bowl for each 15 cows– One ft of space for each 10 cowsOne ft of space for each 10 cows

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Reduce # of Required WaterersReduce # of Required Waterers

Place waterer in an area accessible Place waterer in an area accessible to more than one paddockto more than one paddockCould be a lane or a working penCould be a lane or a working pen

Waterer

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote Areas

Solar PowerSolar Power– Best for surface or shallow wellBest for surface or shallow well– Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy

daysdays

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote Areas

Solar PowerSolar Power– Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy Provide extra storage for nights and cloudy

daysdays– 12 gal/day x 2 to 3 days x # of cows12 gal/day x 2 to 3 days x # of cows– Can be in storage tank or watering troughCan be in storage tank or watering trough

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Power in Remote AreasPower in Remote AreasRam PumpsRam Pumps– Another alternative where flowing water is Another alternative where flowing water is

present nearbypresent nearby– Works on the momentum of flowing waterWorks on the momentum of flowing water

Mud Around WaterersMud Around Waterers

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mud Around WaterersMud Around WaterersSitingSiting– High well-drained areaHigh well-drained area

MaintenanceMaintenance– Check Valves regularlyCheck Valves regularly

Heavy Use AreasHeavy Use AreasNRCS FOTGNRCS FOTG– HUA Code 561HUA Code 561– Watering Fac. Code 614Watering Fac. Code 614

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Mud Around WaterersMud Around WaterersHeavy Use AreasHeavy Use Areas– Originally used to stabilize dirt roadsOriginally used to stabilize dirt roads– Roughly half the cost of concreteRoughly half the cost of concrete– Concrete “moves mud to edge of concrete”Concrete “moves mud to edge of concrete”

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Heavy Use AreaHeavy Use Area

Geotech Fabric – stabilizes foundationGeotech Fabric – stabilizes foundationCoarse aggregate 4-6” No. 3 or 4 gravel Coarse aggregate 4-6” No. 3 or 4 gravel Fine aggregate 2-3”Fine aggregate 2-3”– ““crusher run”crusher run”– “ “dense grade”dense grade”– SandSand– crushed limestonecrushed limestone– fly ash? Other materials?fly ash? Other materials?

Make sure edges of fabric are buriedMake sure edges of fabric are buriedPack MechanicallyPack Mechanically

Heavy Use AreaHeavy Use Area

Watering areaWatering area– At least 15 ft from watering trough for cattleAt least 15 ft from watering trough for cattle– 8 ft for sheep and goats8 ft for sheep and goats

Travel LanesTravel Lanes– 8 to 15 ft wide8 to 15 ft wide– Fence to force useFence to force use– Crown the center of lanes for drainageCrown the center of lanes for drainage– Avoid use by vehicles except for scraping and Avoid use by vehicles except for scraping and

maintenancemaintenance

Drinker TypesDrinker TypesTroughs (Concrete, Galvanized Steel, Troughs (Concrete, Galvanized Steel, others)others)– More access spaceMore access space– Usually lower costUsually lower cost– More storage in the drinkerMore storage in the drinker

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Drinker TypesDrinker TypesIndividual DrinkerIndividual Drinker– Fresher, cleaner waterFresher, cleaner water– Some are “freeze proof”Some are “freeze proof”– Less storage in the drinkerLess storage in the drinker

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Control ValveControl ValveCan be under water for Can be under water for freeze protectionfreeze protectionMust be siphon proofMust be siphon proofMust have min. pressure Must have min. pressure to operate properlyto operate properly

Pictures Courtesy of NRCS

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply system

Need to pump daily need in 4 hoursNeed to pump daily need in 4 hours

18 gal/day/cow x 100 cows = 1800 gpd18 gal/day/cow x 100 cows = 1800 gpd

1800/4 hrs = 450gph = 7.5 gpm @ operating 1800/4 hrs = 450gph = 7.5 gpm @ operating head (resistance)head (resistance)

Can reduce pumping rate by increasing Can reduce pumping rate by increasing storage (especially usefulstorage (especially usefulin solar systems)in solar systems)

Picture Courtesy of NRCS

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply systemPump – operate efficiently at flow rate and Pump – operate efficiently at flow rate and pressure expectedpressure expectedPressure HeadPressure Head– Elevation ChangeElevation Change

Water level in well or pondWater level in well or pondElevation of drinker or Elevation of drinker or storage tankstorage tank(10 ft = approx. 4.3 psi)(10 ft = approx. 4.3 psi)

– Speed of water in pipeSpeed of water in pipe– Length of pipe Length of pipe

Limit drop to 5 psi Limit drop to 5 psi – Most home systems operate at approx. 40 psiMost home systems operate at approx. 40 psi– Drinkers need at least 5-10 psiDrinkers need at least 5-10 psi

Sizing the supply systemSizing the supply system

SanitationSanitation

Anti-siphoning valves should always be Anti-siphoning valves should always be used on livestock waterers to prevent used on livestock waterers to prevent contaminated water from returning to well contaminated water from returning to well when pressure is lost.when pressure is lost.

Drinkers should be easy to drain and cleanDrinkers should be easy to drain and clean

QUESTIONS ?QUESTIONS ?

jworley@uga.edu