Small Acreage Factsheet # 9
Managing Stockwater in Pastures and Streamside Areas

Times are changing...

At one time, livestock watered freely in ditches, ponds, and streams. Those days are over, as people understand how this practice can affect animal health, water quality, and wildlife habitat. It makes good sense to install a fence and an alternative watering system to protect surface water. Here’s why:

• Healthy Animals: An Oregon study showed that livestock prefer water from troughs over water from streams. Livestock gain up to 30% more weight on clean water and graze more efficiently when troughs are distributed throughout pastures. When animals loaf in streams, they are at greater risk from algae toxins and water-borne diseases. Muddy areas near streams may also increase foot rot, leg injuries, and stress.
• Clean Water: Clean water is essential to people, fish, and the environment. One study found five times more trout in streams with stable banks verses streams with eroded banks. When livestock deposit manure in or near water, the components of manure may be harmful: phosphorus increases algae blooms, ammonia kills fish, and coliform bacteria sickens or kills people with weakened immune systems.
• Wildlife Habitat: The trees, shrubs, and tall grass next to streams provide 74% of the food and 94% of the cover for Oregon wildlife. One study found 89 bird species on ungrazed banks compared to 2 bird species (grackles and starlings) on grazed banks. Without stream fencing, livestock may trample grass nests, wade through spawning beds, and muddy the water.

The benefits of a fence and alternative watering system to protect surface water don’t end on-site. The watershed is a big neighborhood where there will always be someone affected downstream. What’s more, the law prohibits animal wastes from entering water and impacting those downstream. Many landowners are realizing the need for change and are looking at better watering alternatives that protect the health of their animals and the environment.

You Can Lead Livestock to Water…

There’s no one right structural "fix" for watering livestock. Every situation is different and it takes planning to get the right solution for you. The first step is to find out how much water your livestock drink. Water use depends on animal size, reproductive status, and weather. Plan according to the number of animals that you have or anticipate to have.

Animal Average drinking needs*

• Beef Cow: 12 gal/day
• Horse: 12 gal/day
• Pig: 8 gal/day
• Llama: 5 gal/day
• Sheep: 4 gal/day
• Goat: 4 gal/day

*On hot days, animals may need twice as much water.

Location, Location, Location: The location of the watering site determines herding behavior and drinking patterns. Here are some suggested watering locations:

• In Each Pasture: Animals tend to drink one at a time if water is provided in pastures 10 acres or less in size. A flow rate of 2-6 gallon per minute will keep a 25-35 gallon tank full. Change the tank location along the fence line to allow sod to recover in former watering areas. A trough in each pasture will keep animals and manure on the grass and out of the lanes.
• Away From Feed, Minerals and Shade: Distribute these items through the pasture. This will discourage loitering in one area and disperse grazing. Provide water outside of the barn or livestock may stay in the barn on hot days and not pasture at all.
• More Than 100 Feet from Open Water: Animals concentrate manure and mud at watering sites. This can create "hot spots" for erosion and polluted runoff. Leave a healthy buffer between watering sites and watercourses.
• Less Than 500 Feet Between Water Sources: If water is far away or located outside the pasture, then animals will travel as a herd to the water and drink as a herd. In a herd situation, livestock will graze unevenly, concentrate in the watering area, and "boss" animals may prevent timid animals from drinking. If this situation can’t be avoided, be sure to have enough space at the water source for 10 percent of the herd to drink at any time. Each drinking animal should have 20 inches of space at a circular tank and 30 inches at a straight tank.

Stockwatering Options

There are a number of cost-effective options for the landowner with a small number of acres and animals. The following options are best when water and power sources are nearby.

Access Ramp/Water Gap to Streams and Ponds

An access ramp provides firm footing and easy access to water while excluding animals (when used with fencing) from trampling the adjacent streambank. It is the most basic improvement that can be made to a stream or pond. Ramps may still cause reduced water quality and animal health concerns. Ramp features include:

• Gentle slopes, about 1 foot drop for every 6 feet of length
• Pit run gravel that’s 1.5 feet thick and 10 feet wide
• Geotextile fabric or polygrid underneath gravel to prevent gravel from mixing with mud
• Fence to restrict animals to the ramp

Water Hauling

A truck, with a storage tank and a removable stock tank in back, is a time-tested method. Water hauling features include:

• Water source can be routinely relocated throughout pastures
• System is useful in rotational grazing
• Manure is evenly distributed

Nose Pumps

Nose pumps are the lowest cost pumping system available. Animals provide the power by pushing a lever with their nose. Each stroke pumps about a pint of water from a hose in the creek to a holding bowl. Nose pump features include:

• Capacity of 30 head of cattle or equivalent per pump.
• Water can be pumped 26 feet high or 125 foot run in a 1-inch hose or pipe.
• 1-2 day training period for animals to learn system. (Small calves and others may be unable to use pump.)
• Flexibility to move pump from pasture to pasture. (Locate pumps away from creeks to buffer any manure or runoff problems around pumps.)
• Maintenance needed. Check daily. Protect from frost or remove in winter.

Spring Development

Springs are formed when water moving through rocks or soil is forced out of the ground. These areas are easily developed. For more information, see Protecting Water Supply Springs (AG473-15) - A North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service publication. Spring development features include:

• Water that is often clean and cold. However, water can be easily contaminated.
• Watershed above spring that should be protected. Test water quality to be sure it meets animal health guidelines.
• Low cost compared to a pond or a well.

Pipeline

Above ground or buried pipeline (such as rigid plastic, flexible plastic, and galvanized iron) provides an economical way to provide water if you have a well or are on a public water system. However, pipelines require more design considerations such as pipeline material, length, elevation differences, and water pressure. A one-way valve should be installed in the line to prevent back flow to your well or rural water system. Pipeline features include:

• Flexibility to supply several paddocks, an ideal setup for the pasture manager. A hydrant, located where four paddocks meet, can supply all four with a garden hose. Pipeline can be placed along lanes.
• Underground pipe is easy to install with a ditch witch on most soils. However, stony soils can be a real chore that may require a backhoe.
• Pipe buried below the frost line and frost-free hydrants can provide water during cold weather.
• Maintenance is needed. Check daily. Drain at the end of the season.

Make Your Own Water Tank

A low cost water tank can be made from a plastic 30 to 55 gallon barrel that is cut in half, installed with a float, and connected to a pipeline system. Make sure the previous content of the barrel was nontoxic. Locate the barrel close to the water source and on high ground to reduce mud. Place hoses in a manner that is safe for animals. Larger tanks can be made from used heavy equipment tires. For details on making used tire tanks, see Trough (Used Heavy Equipment Tire) - USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service design.

Here is a summary of watering systems:

For Help

• The local Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), or local Watershed Council staff may provide on-site advice for stockwatering, fencing, and ways to meet water quality standards. Contact your local SWCD, NRCS, or Watershed Council office for more information.
• The Oregon State University Extension Service offers pasture management publications, workshops, and over-the-phone assistance. Contact your local Extension Service office for more information.

This fact sheet was produced by the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District and the Small Acreage Steering Committee. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board, Oregon Association of Conservation Districts, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service funded the project. You may reproduce or copy any portion of these fact sheets for nonprofit and educational purposes by notifying the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District at (503) 681-0953. Please acknowledge this publication as the source.