Paddock Water Infrastructure

[Laurence]

What size pipe are people running as the main line for water troughs? 100 milking Jerseys. Furtherst point from borehole is about 800m. I want lots of flow so I can use smaller troughs. Is anyone using Kiwitech troughs for dairy cows?

 

[vantage]

50mm.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

40mm/50mm "should" be heaps of flow, plenty around here use 32mm without any worries for quite big herds

smaller troughs are quite a revelation TBH

 

[dinderleat]

63mm

 

[TomB]

63mm

Lovely if you’re on an arla contract. For everyone else 32mm be fine.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

With a reasonable pump 32 will be fine for 100 cows. I run a 50mm main for 500 cows and even on the hottest days troughs are never more than an inch or two from full.

 

[vantage]

Lovely if you’re on an arla contract. For everyone else 32mm be fine.

Absolutely. Wouldn’t want non Arla farmers overproducing due to plentiful water!
32mm will be fine for the herd size quoted and larger.

 

[Beef farmer]

63mm

Go 90mm then the little brown cows could Just about walk up the pipe.

Gravity fed or pumped?

 

[dinderleat]

Lovely if you’re on an arla contract. For everyone else 32mm be fine.

Gravity fed here so need the size to get the volume.
Plus the main is an old 4 inch metal pipe they put in 100 odd years ago

 

[Laurence]

Thanks for input guys. Pumped. Pump capable of 5bar 3l/sec, currently running at 3bar.

 

[Sid]

63mm

You either pay for
capacity, troughs, or
flow ,bigger pipes.


@Laurence many talk about ring mains to increase flow

 

[Devon lad]

You either pay for
capacity, troughs, or
flow ,bigger pipes.


@Laurence many talk about ring mains to increase flow

We run 32mm ring here with 25mm risers on 4/500 gallon concrete troughs for 330 500kg cows keeps up good enough. We Use brass 3/4” ball valves. Our system runs nearer 10 bar. Don’t think you can beat having as big a trough as possible.

 

[Laurence]

We run 32mm ring here with 25mm risers on 4/500 gallon concrete troughs for 330 500kg cows keeps up good enough. We Use brass 3/4” ball valves. Our system runs nearer 10 bar. Don’t think you can beat having as big a trough as possible.

I agree that with what you're saying, but I want to divide into, say 30 paddocks, and cant afford that many big troughs at the moment! So was thinking of putting a decent pipe in for now, using Kiwitech troughs wherever I want to start off with. Big troughs can be added further down the line when a) I have the money and b) I'm more sure of where I want them! Welcome any thoughts.

 

[Cows 'n grass]

I agree that with what you're saying, but I want to divide into, say 30 paddocks, and cant afford that many big troughs at the moment! So was thinking of putting a decent pipe in for now, using Kiwitech troughs wherever I want to start off with. Big troughs can be added further down the line when a) I have the money and b) I'm more sure of where I want them! Welcome any thoughts.

If you want cheap and temporary then get yourself some IBCs. You'd pick up 30 for under £1000. @jimmer and @Martyn could probably give you some pointers and pictures of their budget troughs.

 

[Martyn]

If you want cheap and temporary then get yourself some IBCs. You'd pick up 30 for under £1000. @jimmer and @Martyn could probably give you some pointers and pictures of their budget troughs.

Have made six of these for just the cost of fast flow stopcock, have put old sheet of ply in to stop licking but working really well.

 

[Martyn]

 

[Wisconsonian]

It can't make much difference going from 40 to 90mm if they're both throttled through a 3/4 float valve.

For the short term, boost the water pressure if any of the far waterers don't fill fast enough.

 

[Standon]

Upgrading our grazing paddocks water supply and looking for recommendations for high flow ball valves, other than the big brass ones? Currently have big troughs but stupid little ball valves. Going to 32mm pipe mostly overground due to tenancy length. 200 or so cows. Thanks

 

[Cowwilf]

I agree that with what you're saying, but I want to divide into, say 30 paddocks, and cant afford that many big troughs at the moment! So was thinking of putting a decent pipe in for now, using Kiwitech troughs wherever I want to start off with. Big troughs can be added further down the line when a) I have the money and b) I'm more sure of where I want them! Welcome any thoughts.

Only need one of these.

 

[Devon lad]

Upgrading our grazing paddocks water supply and looking for recommendations for high flow ball valves, other than the big brass ones? Currently have big troughs but stupid little ball valves. Going to 32mm pipe mostly overground due to tenancy length. 200 or so cows. Thanks

Run 320 cows here on a 32mm ring with 25mm upstands and 3/4 brass ball valves. reliable for last 20 years