When the weather gets cold one of the demons on the farm is getting water for the animals. When it is below freezing we spend a lot of time chopping ice with axes and filling the troughs. An average cow might drink up to twenty gallons a day so water intake is important. This year we have made a few changes that have made a world of difference. To start with we are now using a much larger 680 gallon round tank. While it is nice to have a larger tank the real variable to this equations is heat. This tank has a 164,000 b.t.u. heater attached to it. This keeps the water at a perfect 60 degrees. Ice Free! The way the tank was installed allows both the horses and the cattle to drink out of it at the same time. With water available anytime there tends to be a crowd around the tank making it look more like an office water cooler. I'm not sure what kind of conversations are being had but I think the animals just look happier with the new watering system.
