Prsentation PowerPoint

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Livestock watering systems a profitable
solution!
Presented by Roberto Toffoli, agronomist Set-up
Julie Marcoux, dta
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Overview of presentation, part 1

• Good reasons to act
• Current situation
• Expected outcomes
• Profitability and financial aid
• Environmental benefits for the farm and the
  community

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Presentation overview, part 2

• Simple methods
• Watering systems
• supplied from the barn
• supplied from a water source in the pasture
• Setting up a watering system

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Presentation overview, part 2
Simple methods

• Controlling access to streams
• Crossings
• Fences

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Presentation overview, part 3

• Costs of a watering system
• Available financial aid

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Current situation, part 1

• Is the water
• Easily accessible?
• Of a good quality?
• Available in sufficient quantity?
• Accessible in each pasture ?

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Easily accessible ?
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Easily accessible?
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Of good quality?
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Of good quality?
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A sufficient supply?
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Available in each paddock?
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Expected outcomes

• Improved weight gains
• Increased milk production
• Better use of pastures by a more even grazing
• Herd health
• Profitability
• Environmental benefits

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Improved weight gain

• 5 to 30 increase in calves and steers younger
  than 1 yr (Lethbridge, Alberta (1992)).
• ¼ lb to ½ lb more / day for growing animals
• (Oregon, Idaho, USA).

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Improved weight gain

• Results from the Townships
• ADG of 10 higher per weaned calf
  (PATBQ, one farm)

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Improved milk production

• Townships results
• Increase milk production from 1 to 9 during
  pasture season (PATLQ, 2
  farms)

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Better use of pastures

• More uniform grazing
• Prolongs the grazing season
• 2 to 9 min. spent at through vs 15 min. to 3
  hours at the pond (Montana, USA).

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Herd health

• Injuries- fractures
• Foot rot
• Diarrhea
• Mastitis

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Profitability

• Average net investment (after aid)
• Dairy and beef production

2500

• Recoup time is short
• Dairy less than a year
• Beef 1 to 2 years

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Environmental benefits

• Protection of banks and beds of streams
• Improved water quality
• Good relations with neighbours
• Image of farmers as stewards of the land in the
  community

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Watering systems, part 2

• Supplied from the barn
• Supplied from a water source
• creek, spring, pond or underground water

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Barn supplied advantages

• Same water quality as at the barn
• Reliable
• Pressurized system, so slope and elevations are
  not an issue
• Supply is known and demand often high
• Cheap

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Barn supplied Inconveniences

• May reduce the amount of water avaiable for other
  uses barn, home, pool, etc.
• May require a more powerful pump.

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Pasture supplied
Ground level
Water head
Water intake
Tank / through
Stream bed
Water level
Gravity fed
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From a water source Advantages

• Able to supply cattle with water far from barn
• Cheap

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From a water source Disadvantages

• Flow is difficult to evaluate
• Water quality must be verified
• Insuffisance slope to waterer
• If low pressure pay attention to choice of float
  valve

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Set-up of a surface well
Spring - fed
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Set-up of a surface well

• Stream - fed

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SURFACE WELL
Fence to protect the well
Cover
1 m ou
30 cm minimum
30 cm soil
Niveau de l eau
30 cm minimum
Pierres
Tuyau 1 à 2 po vers le réservoir
20 cm
30 cm
Conception Roland Marchand
Roberto Toffoli Pauline Samson MAPAQ-Estrie
Octobre 2002
A 4" drain must be installed to control the water
table at the well and evacuate excess water. A
fence protects the well and maintains the quality
of the water. An overflow pipe may be required to
evacuate excess water.
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Controlled access to streams

• Controling does not mean setting up 200 km of
  fences!
• Short sections to
• Direct animals to stream crossing
• Modify drinking habits

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Fences

• As little as possible (maintenance)
• Only where needed
• Temporary?
• To change habits

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Fences

• At least 1m from top of bank

• After only one season

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Stream crossing

• Reduce slope of banks. Slope 18
• Avoid drainage ditches

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Crossing

• 12 to 24 feet wide
• Fenced on each side
• Ramps with gravel / rock

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Culvert

• Small ditches
• Streams

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Watering stations
On concrete pad (approx 8X10)
With fences
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Watering stations
On limestone screenings
Without a slab
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Type of waterer
Plastic

• Light, durable, cheap
• Entrance and exit holes are ready
• Compartment to protect float valve

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Type of waterer
Galvanized steel

• No pre-drilled holes
• No protection for float

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Type of waterer
Tubs, tanks, etc

• Ecological (recuperation)
• OK but watch for capacity (at least 100 gal)
• No protection for float

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Type of waterer
Insulated waterer

• Ideal for late in the fall grazing
• One per farm is suffisant

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Protecting waterers
Wood carver
Jack-of-all-trades
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Protecting waterers
Welding 101 style
Type G string
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Burying water pipes

• Between 18-24" deep
• Reduces maintenance and increase pipe lifespan
• Protects agains early freezing
• Keeps water cool

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Types of float valves
Dare-O-Matic
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Types of float valves
Rubbermaid
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Types of float valves
Gallagher
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Types of float valves
Keric
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Types of float valves
Hudson
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Hydraulic ram
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Nose pump
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Sling pump
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Solar powered pump
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Maintenance

• Drain pipes in the fall
• Store waterer and valves
• Protect valves and pipes from freezing

Waterer intake
Insulated sleeve
Cover
ground
Valve
Water supply
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Estimated costs, part 3
Case 1 Barn supplied.
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Estimated costs
Case 2 Supplied from surface well
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Financial aid
Prime-Vert program

• Non-point source section
• Withdraw cattle from brooks
• Repair stream banks
• Conservation mesures
• Wind-breaks
• Conservation practices

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Prime-Vert program

• 70 of admissibles costs
• Max of 20 000 / farm.
• New version of program for 2004.
• Check with local MAPAQ office

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In conclusion
Before
After
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Thanks

• Alain Gagnon, ing. MAPAQ Rock Forest
• Richard Laroche, ing. MAPAQ Québec
• Martin Paré, agr. MAPAQ Coaticook
• Roberto Toffoli, agr. MAPAQ Rock Forest

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Thanks
Eastern townships farms

• Ferme Gilles Provencher Inc, Barnston-Ouest
• Ferme A M Leblond, Barnston-Ouest
• Ferme Jacques et Lucie Côté, Johnville
• Ferme JG L Lefebvre, Stanstead-Est
• Ferme Vimo, Ayers Cliff
• Ferme Daniel Maryse, Stanstead
• Ferme La Villandroise, Cookshire

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Questions?