It’s no simple task, picking the right livestock waterer for your needs. There are a lot of different options out on the market, and there may be specific challenges you need to consider. It’s important to do your research and pick what’s right for your herd. Below are a few considerations you should contemplate when making your choices.
Consider Legal Regulations
Before you even begin shopping around, make sure you read up on legal requirements. Ensure you complete your research about specific regulations that must be met. The last thing you want is to be fined for not following local regulations. Additionally, if you are looking for grants and investors, make sure you are operating in a way that follows their standards and regulations as well.
Picking the Right Size and Design
The most circumstantial of your choices is picking the right design and size.
One important consideration is your future growth. Don’t just pick a livestock waterer that will handle the herd you already have. Any successful operation will always look towards the future. Your goals over the next few years or decade should reflect the choices you make today. Consider the size of the herd you want to be maintaining in ten years when choosing your waterer.
Now, when picking the model and design of the waterer, you once again must take consideration. Depending on the environment and location, your needs will vary.
Depending on the location, you might not have a lot of space to install your waterer. It’s worth considering choosing smaller waterers in the appropriate situations. SPI Plastics even offers some waterer’s that can be mounted on a wall.
If you live in a colder climate, make sure you get a well insulated solution, and pick a unit with a heater. Ensuring the water doesn’t freeze and is at an adequate drinking temperature will keep your herd happy and healthy.
The Material Is Key
Speaking of keeping your herd healthy, the material your waterer is made of can make all the difference. Some animals are a little clumsier than others, so you need to find a waterer that can withstand a little tough love. We’ll go over a few common materials waterers can be made from and discuss their differences.
Concrete
Concrete is by far the sturdiest option for a waterer. Nothing will be moving that thing once it’s poured. However, its weight is also its greatest drawback. You won’t be able to move it around for any reason, and any servicing the waterer needs must be completed on-site, which could be a very impractical solution. They also come with a hefty price tag.
Metal
Metal waterers can offer a high amount of durability and are a lot easier than concrete. Metal waterers come with their own set of problems though. If the inner lining is damaged, or if it doesn’t have one at all, the water in the tank can leach unhealthy minerals from the tank. Metal waterers can also have pieces bent and pipes misaligned, causing plumbing issues and water leaks.
Fibreglass
These tanks are probably the lightest and easiest to install, but lack the strength required to hold up over a long period of time. Fibreglass also requires a special coating to ensure there’s no contamination of the water for your livestock.
Plastic
Which leaves us to our last, and best choice. Plastic livestock waterers are the most versatile of all materials. With the right plastic molding techniques, livestock waterers can be built incredibly sturdy and easily maintained, all at a low cost.
SPI’s livestock waterers are built of a polyethylene construction, creating a strong, corrosion free product designed to provide years of trouble-free operation. Our low maintenance, easy-to-clean, polyethylene products are FDA and HPB approved, food grade, recyclable plastic. All our livestock waterers meet “Grade A” Dairy requirements. SPI’s waterers are designed with rounded corners to handle livestock abuse while ensuring livestock safety.
If you need help picking the right livestock waterer for your needs, give us a call and we can help you pick the best solution for your herd!