Waterers and watering systems: a handbook for livestock producers and landowners

A team of Kansas State University watershed specialists has revised a publication with tips on safeguarding the state’s water resources while providing grazing animals with the water they need.  The publication, Waterers and Watering Systems: A Handbook for Livestock Producers and Landowners, is available online at https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S147.pdf and may also be available at local extension offices in Kansas.

There are three main methods to deliver water to livestock:

• Provide direct access to a water source such as a stream or pond;
• Allow water to flow by gravity from a higher elevation into a waterer or tank;
• Pump water from a lower elevation to a higher elevation into a waterer or tank.

Water delivery is often a combination of the water source, a power source, a pipeline to convey the water to the waterer, and the waterer itself. Each component of the watering system should be selected for compatibility with the entire watering system and livestock needs.

This handbook assists in the design of a watering system that fits your budget, site, and livestock needs. Some systems require specific geological formations (such as springs) or depend on specific elevation differences. While components may be off-the-shelf, the arrangement and installation of a watering system must be adjusted to each site. As you look through this handbook, keep in mind the characteristics of your land and site, the time you have available for management and upkeep, and the size and type of animal you have. These will all factor into decisions about which option to choose.

Various factors contribute to poor water quality and ultimately result in poor livestock performance or death. Mineral, biological, and chemical components can impair water quality. Drought conditions can concentrate components as water levels drop. Manure runoff often affects multiple water-quality constituents, such as nitrates, blue-green algae, and undesirable bacteria. Tolerance to each constituent varies by species, health condition, age, and season. Providing livestock with improved access to plentiful, clean water is a good reason to upgrade a watering system.

The full publication can be viewed at https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/S147.pdf.