Alternative Watering
Although piped mains or borehole water is the first choice as drinking water for livestock, there are some grazing areas too remote from the steading where piping water isn’t an option.
Unchecked livestock access to watercourses can give rise to issues in terms of herd health and biosecurity, plus loss of land through erosion and significant poaching leading to a breach of regulations and financial penalties.
Funded by the Scottish Government, and with support from SEPA, SAC Consulting worked with three farmers to install and trial a range of different alternative watering systems to provide drinking water for livestock at remote sites.
Alternative Watering videos:
Alternative watering: A farmer’s journey
Robert Ramsay a farmer and beef consultant with SAC consulting installed a solar alternative watering system on his farm in 2020. The new system has allowed him to remove livestock from the burn, giving him piece of mind when it comes to water quality, while also increasing the potential for improved grazing on the farm.
Alternative watering, that are the options?
Find out more about the options available when installing alternative watering sources for livestock.
Cogarth Alternative Watering Meeting
Key points from an alternative watering meeting held in Dumfries looking at the capabilities of the papa pump and solar pumps.
An Introduction to the Pasture Pump
Pasture pumps are another option when looking to set up an alternative watering source for livestock. This video gives a brief introduction to what they are and how they work.
Introduction to the Papa Pump
Hear more about a Papa Pump and how it can be used on farm to provide an alternative watering source which can help to prevent livestock poaching around watercourses.
Unchecked livestock access to watercourses can give rise to issues in terms of herd health and biosecurity, plus loss of land through erosion and significant poaching leading to a breach of regulations and financial penalties.
Although piped mains or borehole water is the first choice as drinking water for livestock, there are some grazing areas too remote from the steading where piping water isn’t an option.
Funded by the Scottish Government, and with support from SEPA, SAC Consulting worked with three farmers to install and trial a range of different alternative watering systems to provide drinking water for livestock at remote sites.
Useful Downloads
Technical note (TN665): Alternative watering for field grazed livestock I – abstraction systems
Technical note (TN666): Alternative watering for field grazed livestock II - pumping systems
Mind the gap – 2m and 10m buffer strips
KTR Factsheet 7 - Managing livestock
Case Study: Hardens Farm - Using a RAM pump to provide alternative watering for grazing livestock