The Waldron Grazing Association in southwestern Alberta and Agriculture Canada funded the study. Farmers are showing particular interest in fencing dugouts and then pumping water to troughs as a way to prevent cattle from directly contaminating the water. Willms and his research team found that cattle drinking from a dugout spend significantly less time grazing than those offered clean water. Palatability was also shown to be an important water quality factor. When their drinking water is contaminated with manure, for instance, they may not drink enough, which can affect gain.
Results show that cattle eat a quarter of a kilogram less feed for every liter less of water intake.
Ram pumps use the energy of falling water from springs, ponds or creeks to pump the water to a higher elevation, without the need for an external energy source. The fall from the water source must be at least 2-3 feet, and a minimum of 1 gallon per minute flow is required. The energy of one-foot fall will pump the water vertically ten feet. Graziers' Comments Ed Heckman Wayne County Extension Educator Grazing begins in the spring when the forage is less than three inches tall. The reason you do this is to establish an uneven growth cycle in your paddocks, so that all of them aren't ready for grazing at the same time.