Livestock Watering System
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Conservation Safe Watering
A system of troughs and water lines to provide livestock with water from a spring, pond, well or other source.
Description
Selectively placed watering troughs can make pasture management easier. Farmers can control grazing more efficiently and prevent erosion and water pollution by excluding livestock from streams, springs, and other environmentally sensitive water sources.
Benefits
- Provides a clean, reliable, and easily accessible water supply for animals.
- Allows farmers to divide large pastures into smaller unites to rotate livestock from one pasture to another to maintain good forage quality.
- Can help reduce erosion from messy or muddy areas resulting from livestock having uncontrolled access to springheads or streams.
- Can reduce mastitis or hoof problems by providing water for livestock in dry pastures.
Planning
- Will the system have adequate capacity to meet livestock water needs?
- Will the watering system affect down-stream flows or aquifers?
- Will wetlands or other water-dependent wildlife habitat be impacted?
- Will fencing be needed to exclude livestock from streams and sensitive areas?
Tech Notes
- Work with our office to establish this practice.
- Locate troughs to promote even grazing in pastures. Troughs should b located as far from streams and drainageways as practical.
- Overflow from a watering trough should be handled using an underground outlet.
- Permanently installed watering troughs should be constructed of reinforced concrete or an equally durable material.
- Obtain necessary permits or authorizations before construction.
Maintenance
- Reseed and fertilize as needed around the trough to maintain vegetative cover.
- Inspect the water source, pipelines, and outlets regularly.