Drinkers for cows: types and how to do it yourself, step by step instructions

Different types of drinkers for cows and calves are important components of the livestock complex. Without free access to clean drinking water, individuals will not be able to fully develop, respectively, productivity decreases. Special equipment can be purchased or made independently, adhering to certain norms and sanitary requirements.

What drinkers are for

Drinker for cows

Drinkers for cows and calves are an integral part of the farm. They are a special design.Their main task is to provide livestock with clean water. For cattle, it is considered important to drink water in the amount that is required for them from the point of view of physiology.

Cows are large animals, so the farm uses a lot of water. An adult consumes up to 70 liters per day, a calf up to 6 months - 25 liters. If there is not enough water, then some pathologies will develop, which means that the productivity of animals will suffer.

Drinking containers on the farm

A high-quality drinking bowl for cattle not only provides animals with water in the required quantity, but also facilitates the work of the farmer. Drinking equipment regulates the water supply, simplifies the cleaning procedure, and guarantees the sanitary safety of individuals.

Views

There are many varieties of drinking equipment. They differ in the material from which they are made, according to the type of use and purpose.There are tanks for calves and young animals, as well as installations that are used in winter or suitable for pasture use.

Group

Group drinking equipment

Group types are used on farms with loose cattle. There are stationary and mobile, which must be used for free grazing of livestock. The circulation of water in the device ensures a comfortable temperature for the animals.

They are large volume, easy to maintain, convenient, they can be used by several animals at the same time. They belong to the level type. However, they have a drawback - with such a system of drinking, there is a high risk of infection of the livestock through a sick individual.

Customized

Individual device

Individual containers are more suitable for tethered keeping of cattle.Often, for economic reasons, farmers make them with their own hands. With proper design and installation, individual drinkers are stable and hygienic. Among the minuses - water damage due to stagnation, the need for frequent washing.

For pasture

Isothermal watering device for cows in the pasture

Animals need to drink frequently while grazing. The farmer must ensure that the cows have free access to clean drinking water, so a mobile drinker is needed on the pasture. As a rule, animals go to the watering place in large groups.

For drinkers located in the pasture, the main requirement is a large capacity.

The volume of the tank should be chosen based on the number of livestock. They are from 30 to 1500 liters. Water is constantly pumped up, and the container is filled. If it is supplied from open reservoirs or wells, filters must be used.

For the stall

Stall equipment

Stall drinker designed for large herds. The device consists of the following items:

• nipple valve (i.e. nipple);
• sealing block;
• body made of anti-corrosion metal.

In the upper part of the housing there is an element that supplies running water from the plumbing system. Experts note that teat drinkers are hygienic, easier to maintain, and the probability of breakage is several times less than that of other types of designs.

Automatic

Autodrinker scheme

Automatic drinkers for cattle are equipped with a valve-float supply system. Their advantage is that water re-enters them as they are consumed by animals. As soon as the liquid level starts to decrease, the filling of fresh water starts automatically.This view is designed in such a way that the newly incoming water is evenly distributed over the tanks, and the cows drink plenty.

The signal for the supply of water is the float, which, reaching the bottom, signals the need for replenishment. Some automatic systems are made only on the basis of a valve, and the heads of animals play the role of a float. Pulling to the bottom, they press on the valve, and water enters the tank. However, such devices are considered not very practical, as animals often disable them.

For calves

Calf watering device with teats

If there are few calves or bulls on the farm, then you can get by with a suitable container. However, in large farms it is more expedient to install a stationary drinker. It is designed for 8-10 individuals. Such devices are equipped with a heating system, do not require filling control, are stable and roomy.

Winter

Heated level tanks

Daily exercise is the key to he alth and high productivity, as well as the prevention of a number of diseases. Animals must be in the fresh air in motion for a certain time. The winter season is no exception. It is clear that even under such harsh conditions, cows need clean water.

Comfortable water temperature for cattle is 12-20 °C, so the shelves must be heated. It is carried out using a heating element.

Equipment must be grounded, communications isolated. It is recommended to use heating equipment in combination with automated drinkers.

Basic Requirements

Device inside

There are a number of requirements for cattle drinkers:

• low injury rate for both animals and staff;
• sustainable;
• strength and stability;
• easy to operate and maintain;
• corresponds to size and age.

Before purchasing, you should consider the volume of the tank, consider the installation location, and also choose the installation method.

Drawings and materials

Heated tank

The main requirement for the material is safety and high strength. Regardless of the material, the design for drinking should be comfortable and functional. Device elements: drinking bucket, distribution unit, supply pipeline. The design of drinking systems may vary, as well as materials, but they must be convenient and economical in terms of fluid consumption.

Heated group drinker

For adult animals, you will need a container with dimensions of at least 2.200.71 m.Tank volume - 150 l. The length depends on the age of the cows served. The optimal value is 1.5-2 m. The upper side of the tank should be raised from the floor by 0.8-1 m so that the animal does not bend its neck while drinking.

Handmade

To make a drinker for cows, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules of use, the basic requirements and nuances of the device. A do-it-yourself design is often a container with a valve-float mechanism. The gutters that are needed in drinking installations are made of brick, wood or concrete. A sheet of galvanized steel is also suitable for these purposes.

From the tools you will need:

• welding machine;
• drill;
• screwdriver;
• hammer;
• file;
• roulette.

The choice of material depends on the size of the barn and the number of individuals in the herd.

Metal

Metal level tank

It is better if the drinker is made of galvanized steel or stainless steel. Such products are durable, meet the requirements and standards, have a long service life. In addition, they are resistant to cleaning and disinfection.

From wood

Wood is considered an environmentally friendly material. It is durable and will last a long time. However, before making a drinker, careful processing of wood is required. Only if it is stripped, painted with special non-toxic paints, treated with resin, will last a certain period.

Despite the serious preparation of the material, over time, the wood will dampen due to exposure to moisture, and the process of decay will begin.

Plastic

Cow drinkers are made from barrels

Plastic is a popular drinker material. High-quality plastic is durable, can be disinfected and cleaned with abrasive substances. Often, a plastic barrel is used for manufacturing, cut lengthwise into two halves.

From brick

Brick drinkers are the most durable, but they also have drawbacks. The material will require careful processing (plastering) both from the outside and from the inside. At the same time, the components must be neutral and clean from an environmental point of view.

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