Water Pressure on hill

garfield89

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'd like to cell graze a 35 acre field, which stretches over 500m in length and rises 60m from one head land to the other.

For water, it would be great to be able to run MDPE pipe from the top of the field down to the bottom, branching out along the way down, fed by an IBC.
In the real world, would the water pressure on that incline be far too high?

There is a spring in the middle of the field, placing it 30m below, 300m away, from above mentioned IBC.
Is it possible to pump water up that distance and height to refill the IBC?

My Plan B is to simply tow the IBC on trailer with trough to whichever subdivision the sheep are in.

Thanks
 

Bald n Grumpy

Member
Livestock Farmer
I'm sure you've already considered it but can you not split the field so that stock can water below the spring you mentioned? Just a thought
Plan b sounds the easiest option depending on stock numbers ( how often ibc will need refilling)
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
35ac will hold a lot of sheep. I have 250 ewes with singles in a field currently, that is watered from a gravity fed pipe from a 3000L tank that I fill from the mains when it's empty. The fall is about 10m from the tank, and it's only a trickle.
Those sheep have been getting through about 1000 L a day during this hot spell, despite having only just been let in, onto plentiful fresh grass.

You'll be busy with an IBC on a trailer!
 
Last edited:

Wisconsonian

Member
Trade
The pressure won't be too high, you can use larger diameter pipe at the higher elevations closer to the peak, and smaller diameter pipe at the lower elevation where the pressure is higher.

Pumping water is simply a matter of figuring out what volume and pressure you need, then finding the method to pump it, and maybe going back to the drawing board after you see the price for the first plan. Solar is cheaper these days, depends on what you value your time hauling water whether it will be cheaper than the alternatives. If you have grid power available, that is the easy choice.
 
I'd like to cell graze a 35 acre field, which stretches over 500m in length and rises 60m from one head land to the other.

For water, it would be great to be able to run MDPE pipe from the top of the field down to the bottom, branching out along the way down, fed by an IBC.
In the real world, would the water pressure on that incline be far too high?

There is a spring in the middle of the field, placing it 30m below, 300m away, from above mentioned IBC.
Is it possible to pump water up that distance and height to refill the IBC?

My Plan B is to simply tow the IBC on trailer with trough to whichever subdivision the sheep are in.

Thanks

Could you, or would you want to, split the field in 4. divide up and cell graze each 1/4 but no back fence so the stock could walk back to the water which if I have it right is in the middle of the field?
 

garfield89

Member
Livestock Farmer
The pressure won't be too high, you can use larger diameter pipe at the higher elevations closer to the peak, and smaller diameter pipe at the lower elevation where the pressure is higher.

Pumping water is simply a matter of figuring out what volume and pressure you need, then finding the method to pump it, and maybe going back to the drawing board after you see the price for the first plan. Solar is cheaper these days, depends on what you value your time hauling water whether it will be cheaper than the alternatives. If you have grid power available, that is the easy choice.
I see what you mean, hauling water wouldn't be much fun even without time factored in.
We fortunately have enough pipe from infrastructure used for our dairy herd which was sold earlier this year, so the first option shouldn't be too bad.
I planned on pumping water up hill to refill the IBC, rather then directly feed the trough on demand, so water volume hopefully doesn't need to be that great, what would you're thoughts be?
With a flock of 60 with singles and twins, that should mean turning the pump on to refill the IBC twice weekly at most.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
I see what you mean, hauling water wouldn't be much fun even without time factored in.
We fortunately have enough pipe from infrastructure used for our dairy herd which was sold earlier this year, so the first option shouldn't be too bad.
I planned on pumping water up hill to refill the IBC, rather then directly feed the trough on demand, so water volume hopefully doesn't need to be that great, what would you're thoughts be?
With a flock of 60 with singles and twins, that should mean turning the pump on to refill the IBC twice weekly at most.

To be worth the effort of cell grazing, surely you need to be able to run more than 60 ewes on 35ac? :scratchhead:

If the (obviously steep) field won’t carry more than that, then I doubt you’ll see much benefit over just splitting the 35ac in four, around the water source, and rotating round the four paddocks.
 

garfield89

Member
Livestock Farmer
To be worth the effort of cell grazing, surely you need to be able to run more than 60 ewes on 35ac? :scratchhead:

If the (obviously steep) field won’t carry more than that, then I doubt you’ll see much benefit over just splitting the 35ac in four, around the water source, and rotating round the four paddocks.
Your right, field can certainly handle much more, but this is just a starter flock, planning to get numbers up once a few issues, including tenancy, have been ironed out.
 

neilo

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Montgomeryshire
Your right, field can certainly handle much more, but this is just a starter flock, planning to get numbers up once a few issues, including tenancy, have been ironed out.

In which case, I suggest you will see no benefit from cell grazing it. You will just end up with the ungrazed sections getting too long and losing digestibility.

Save your time and fencing costs until you have more stock, whilst enjoying the better individual animal performance from set stocking it. (I’m about to get attacked by the grazing guys now;))
 
To be worth the effort of cell grazing, surely you need to be able to run more than 60 ewes on 35ac? :scratchhead:

If the (obviously steep) field won’t carry more than that, then I doubt you’ll see much benefit over just splitting the 35ac in four, around the water source, and rotating round the four paddocks.

Read it again Neil
 

Bill dog

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Scottish Borders
@ Garfield, this is my system to graze a 35 acre block, about 70 meters lift to get to it. The pond outlet( small pond , but hasn’t dried out thank god) drains into the ibc. I’ve a solar panel water pump thingy that then pumps the water up the hill to the troughs.
Could you not fill an ibc from your spring and do the same.
Ardo water solutions from near Aberdeen makes the pumps. I could pm you the man’s number if you like !
E8F4DBAC-C1A4-4B15-8E38-BC05858821A1.jpeg
 

PostHarvest

Member
Location
Warwick
Take a look at Papa Pumps
Papa pumps are Ram pumps so use the power from excess water to pump part of the flow to where you need it. Years ago my dad installed a Blakes Ram pump on a Lancashire hill farm, and as far as I know its still going. We then moved to a farm where there were three of them. Just need a little maintenance every now and again. Blakes have long gone, but there are plenty of more modern designs around. Use one to keep your IBC (other tanks are available) topped up and then pipe to wherever you want.
 

WPTglobal

Member
Trade
Papa pumps are Ram pumps so use the power from excess water to pump part of the flow to where you need it. Years ago my dad installed a Blakes Ram pump on a Lancashire hill farm, and as far as I know its still going. We then moved to a farm where there were three of them. Just need a little maintenance every now and again. Blakes have long gone, but there are plenty of more modern designs around. Use one to keep your IBC (other tanks are available) topped up and then pipe to wherever you want.

Papa Pumps require even less maintenance than the old style ram pumps plus no moving mechanical parts so easy maintenance when needed
 

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