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The Sun Waters These Cows
When Jeff Cunningham was told by a local government agency that he was going to have to fence off the creek running through his pasture, he was concerned how he was going to get water to the small herd of cattle that graze there.
"The creek and a small spring fed pond that overflows into the creek are the only w
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The Sun Waters These Cows ENERGY Solar 30-2-33 When Jeff Cunningham was told by a local government agency that he was going to have to fence off the creek running through his pasture, he was concerned how he was going to get water to the small herd of cattle that graze there.
"The creek and a small spring fed pond that overflows into the creek are the only water sources for the pasture," explains Cunningham.
A solar-powered water pump proved to be the solution. The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, which wanted the creek fenced off, contracted with a local alternative energy supplier to set up a watering system for Cunningham.
Mike Findley, Sun Energy Systems in nearby Port Colborne, Ontario, put together a package that included a 50-watt solar panel, 12-volt deep cycle solar batteries, and a float pump system with a 12-ft. lift. A hose running from the pump carries water to 110-gal. poly tanks on either side of the small stream. A float on the end of the hose connects by extension cord to a controller on the solar array. It turns the system on and off according to tank water level.
"When I move the cattle from one side of the creek to the other, I just drag the hose across and hook it up," says Cunningham. "The battery pack more than maintains water levels over night."
The pump is a standard sump-type pump that hangs from a float in the center of the small pond. As a water source, the pond is more stable than the creek where water levels can fluctuate by season.
Findley says the system is priced at about $1,600 for the solar panel and pump with the 100-amp hour batteries priced at about $237. Capacity for the system is about 1,400 gal./day. Findley says a $2,135, 125-watt system would produce about 4,500 gal./day. Although he hasn't installed many for cattle producers, Findley says interest is growing for the off-the-grid systems.
"I think we will see more of them being used," he says. "The solar panels and pumps are practically maintenance free, and if you treat the batteries right, they'll last a long time."
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Mike Findley, Sun Energy Systems, 40 Ramey Ave., Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada, L3K 2L3 (ph 905 835-8963; fax 905 835-9884; info@sunenergysystems.ca; www.sunenergy systems.ca).
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