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Beef Breeder MANUAL
Figure 2.32. Water trough positions. Water troughs should be placed in fence lines A, C andor D and not in the middle of the pen B.
The cattle crush should be installed on and bolted securely to a reinforced concrete plinth to ensure
that it is not able to be moved by cattle when they are contained inside. Similarly, because head bails are
aixed to the end of a race, the end posts of the race must be well reinforced and cemented in the ground so
that they cannot be moved or broken when animals are restrained in the head bail.
2.2.11. Water Troughs
Depending on the age and physiological status of the animals, cattle will drink between 20 and 100 litres
per head per day Table 1.1 Page 12. This will also vary depending on the air temperature, humidity and
importantly the dry matter content of the ration being fed. With this in mind, water supplies must therefore be
suicient to accommodate these demands. In cattle yards, water troughs can be placed in larger
receiving yards and are useful where practices such as yard weaning are implemented, or where there is a
need to keep animals contained in the yards for more than 12 hours. In these situations, water troughs are best
placed along or in fence lines so that animals in several larger yards can share the trough, and so that they do
not impede the movement of animals through the yards Fig. 2.32. With water troughs placed in this position,
the fence structure needs to be able to prevent animals getting into the other yards or pens, whilst allowing
animals to easily drink from them. If these troughs are to be used during winter, the
selection of the type of trough and the installation of water supply pipes is critical to prevent freezing of the
water. A range of ‘frost-free’ water troughs are available, including heated water troughs, and supply lines must
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Cold Winter Climates
be installed to a depth in the ground that is below the frost line to ensure that water does not freeze in the
pipes leading to the trough.
Water troughs should not be placed in the middle of yards or in areas where cattle can defecate or walk or
fall into the trough. This will prevent contamination of water and the spread of parasites and diseases. Where
possible, troughs should not be in the corner of yards.
Water troughs should be cleaned at least once every week, or more often if water becomes fouled. In
winter, the water troughs should be inspected daily to ensure that the water in the trough is not frozen. This
is particularly important where cattle are overwintered in coninement yards, or when cows are lactating and
their daily water demands are substantially increased.
In addition to ensuring that there is a water supply, regular inspection will also allow for the removal of any
dirt, algae or dung that has accumulated in the water supply. The water trough should have a drainage outlet
with a plug that can make cleaning easy. The plug should be big enough to let the water drain out quickly,
and not leak once the plug has been put back.
Dirty water should be drained away from the yards, and waste water from cleaning should not be left in pools
around the trough to cause wet, boggy areas.
2.3. Winter Facilities
