Rolling Water Tank For Pastured Cows

Rolling Water Tank For Pastured Cows LIVESTOCK Buildings Jeremy Stilson brings water to his cows using a home-built water wagon that lets his herd keep grazing instead of walking home for water     “Before the water wagon we had alleyways and the cattle had to walk quite a way to get water ” says Stilson “Now they stay in the pasture and spread their manure there not in an alleyway ”     Stilson bought a used 10-ton Deere running gear for $500 He built a bed out of two 16-ft 6 by 8-in railroad ties topped by 1-in oak boards     “I mounted four 175-gal totes on the bed with oak 2 by 4’s around them to anchor them in place so they don’t shift ” says Stilson “The 4 totes plumbed together act as a baffle so the weight doesn’t shift as much when I move the wagon ”     He used converters on the tote valves to connect them with 2-in pvc pipe A valve at the end of the pipe connects it to the rear mounted stock tank     “I used 3/4-in steel tubing to make a shelf that I welded to the back axle ” says Stilson “I set the stock tank on it and surrounded it with treated 2 by 12’s so the cattle can’t push it around ”     Initially Stilson filled the totes from ditches and ponds using a trash pump However residue collected in the tanks and the resulting algae plugged valves     “Now we fill it at the farmstead and tow it to the herd ” says Stilson “As long as we use clean water we have no problems ”     The only thing that limits use of the tank is freezing temperatures Stilson usually drains the totes in December     “It takes a heavy frost to get the tanks to freeze but we hang it up by January ” he says “I just take the main valve off and the line is empty At that point we pull the herd back to a winter paddock with a heated waterer ”     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Jeremy Stilson 21847 Four Mile Rd Morley Mich 49336 ph 231 414-4978; stilsonfarms@gmail com

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