Streams and Livestock
Alternatives for stream restoration in livestock pastures
VOLUME III
Michigan State University Extension has an excellent publication
on this called "Watering Systems for Grazing Livestock.". It was written by Ben Bartlett, DVM, and provides information on hydraulic rams, solar pumps, tank sizes, "sling" pumps, wind-powered systems, and so forth as well as a listing of suppliers.
We are currently working on a project in this area (a decision aid for tank and pipe sizing, not a BMP project) and we have found his information to be right on line (although with our warmer temperatures here in SC our livestock water needs are slightly higher). The MSU Extension Department phone number is 906-439-5880.
I will also refer you to a paper (that I have mentioned over the past year or two) presented at the Southeast Sustainable Animal Waste Management Workshop in Tifton, Georgia in February of 1997. The presentation (on page 185 of the proceedings) was titled, Off Stream Watering Sources: A Water Quality BMP and was written by Ronald E. Sheffield (Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University) and Saied Mostaghimi (Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute). In two studies they supplied an alternate watering source near a stream or creek - with no fencing - and saw cattle residency times in the stream drop by 70% or more. Sediment, phosphorus, and other loads were lowered from 50% for some nutrients up to 90% for others (if memory serves correctly). A large improvement in water quality by simply adding a water tank. The proceedings should be available from the University of Georgia Extension as publication number ENG97-001. Contact them, Ron Sheffield, or Saied Mostaghimi if you need a copy.
Bryan Smith
Developing Off Stream Watering Sources by Ronald E. Sheffield (Microsoft Word Format)
> In the subtropics of Oz the cows spend a lot of the
> day wallowing and staying cool. What climate does the quoted
> study refer to, and was any shade provided.
Gabrielle,
The studies were conducted in Independence, Virginia and Floyd,
Virginia (both at about 36.5 degrees northern latitude). Probably a Zone 6 climate according to horticulture books. Somewhat north of us here in South Carolina and probably a little cooler in the summer. No additional shade was apparently provided, and the streams seemed to be fairly shallow from the slide presentation (although the depth wasn't mentioned). There was little shade around the streams, so the cattle had no incentive to be near the stream for cooling unless they were to lie in the stream itself.
We do have cattle in ponds and streams for cooling here too. They do seem to stay in the water longer in shady areas of streams and ponds during hot weather (that's a personal observation - I haven't seen any research on that). One of the things we tend to recommend for designated stream crossings and fenced watering areas is to remove shade in the area - to help limit the time the cattle stay there for cooling purposes. Oddly enough, our livestock specialists say that for our area of the world there is no research that shows an increase in beef production related to available shade. Hmmm ..... shaded areas are obviously more comfortable for the cattle .......
One interesting side note - the presenter of this information noted that prior to implementing the watering system, the streams did not "meander" at all. I would guess from this that their sediment-carrying capacity for their flow velocity was apparently filled by sediment eroded from the banks - hence no room left to "erode and fill" a new natural channel. After the watering system was placed in the pastures the streams began to "meander" again. The interesting point of this for me is that if you do fence a stream, don't place the fence too close! The "meander" may require fence movement in a few years .....
> Some-one mentioned an idea the other day of putting a roof over
> the drinking trough, and catching rainwater from the roof to
> supply the trough.
Not a bad idea, but I wouldn't want that to be the only source of water. It may be a good supplemental water source, though.
Consider that in my area (Climate zone 8) a typical 1200 pound
(550 kg) beef cow with a calf needs up to 20 gallons (76 liters) of water per day or more during 90 degree F (32.2 degrees C)
weather. If the roof over the trough is 20 feet by 30 feet (about 6 meters x 9 meters) - which would be quite a large shed for a single watering tank - a 1 inch (2.54 cm) rain would yield around 375 gallons (1425 liters) of water. That would supply 1 cow for around 18 days, or 2 cows for 9 days, etc.
Now, if you had the storage for a year's rainfall in my area (about 50 inches or 127 cm) from this shed you could water 2 cows for 450 days - or 20 cows for 45 days. Needed shed size would
depend on the herd size. Compare the cost of a larger shed to a
well - the well will probably win out if you have some way to power the pump (solar or wind might work nicely).
W. Bryan Smith
Area Extension Agent - Agricultural Engineer
Irrigation / Water Quality
Clemson Extension Service
P.O. Box 160, Newberry, South Carolina 29108 USA
Office: 803.276.1091 FAX: 803.276.1095
Watering Cattle With The Sun
Streams and Livestock - Volume I
Streams and Livestock - Volume II
Ranger 146's Home Page
Stream Restoration Links
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Restoration of Channelized Streams to Enhance Fish Habitat
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National Handbook of Conservation Practices
Riparian Ecosystem Creation and Restoration
Water Related BMPs
Nonpoint & Point Pollution Related Links
NCSU Water Quality Group - Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Concepts