Patent ID: 7007634

Claim:
A trough for livestock, comprising: a base, substantially comprised of a tire side wall, having upper and lower surfaces, a generally annular opening proximate a center portion of said base, and a peripheral edge portion; an outer wall, substantially comprised of a tire tread, extending upwardly from the peripheral edge portion of said base to form an open cavity; a fluid supply conduit extending through said opening formed within said base so that said fluid supply line is in fluid communication with said cavity to selectively supply a volume of fluid to said cavity; valve means operatively connected to said fluid supply conduit for regulating the volume of fluid that enters said cavity from said fluid supply conduit; valve actuator means operatively connected to said valve means for at least partially opening said valve means when the volume of fluid in said cavity is below a predetermined level; an access cover that covers the opening formed within said base and receives said fluid supply conduit and an overflow conduit that is positioned to drain excess fluid from said cavity; and an inner wall that forms a protective tower that is removably secured to said access cover, said protective tower and access cover defining an inner chamber that is in fluid communication with said cavity.