Producers pipe up about better watering system

In a year when water is on the minds of livestock producers across Western Canada, wouldn't it be nice to know you have a reliable supply for your herd? For many livestock producers across the prairies, pasture pipelines are providing that source.

Pasture pipelines - lines that run either above or up to 12 inches below the ground - are becoming a very popular means of watering cattle. Their economical benefits, long life expectancy, versatility, simplicity, and water quality benefits make these lines much more appealing than your basic dugout.

"By using these pipelines, guys get good quality water out to their animals, and they are able to fence off their dugouts," said Ron Ryz, water development technician at the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration's (PFRA) Dauphin District Office. "Basically, they extend the life of their dugout. There's no reason why a dugout shouldn't last 20-25 years if cattle are excluded from it; simply fencing it off, grassing it, and using some best management practices."

Pasture pipelines run from the farm's main water supply, or a nearby source, to outlets wherever cattle are grazing. Lines are fed water mainly from electrical powered pumps, reaching any spot on the farm up to five kilometres away.

Because many producers opt for reliable and effective electric pumps, the system should be set up near an electrical grid, and, if possible, close to the pasture. Most will set their systems up using either a dugout or well, providing the source is sustainable. By taking water from the source instead of allowing cattle to access it directly, producers are also better able to maintain its quality, while utilizing the entire supply more effectively.

Pasture pipelines are made from weather-resistant low or high density polyethylene line, though preference is given to high density with an estimated lifespan of 25 years or more. The difference between the two lines is in their construction: low density pipe should be installed using an open-trench method; high density line can be ploughed in, saving the producer time and money.

Burying the line increases its life span as animals are not able to trample or chew on it. Alternatively, leaving the pipe above ground and placing it along fence lines will decrease the chances of cattle damaging it. The advantage of an above ground system is that any leaks can be spotted more easily than with buried lines. The disadvantages of above ground pipe is that the water will be hot and there is a risk of damage to the pipe from trampling by livestock or damage from vehicles or skidoos driving over them. In Saskatchewan, PFRA only provides funding for buried lines.

Unlike low density lines, high density is UV protected and can be left above ground without sustaining environmental damage. Low density joints are brought together with clamps and plastic inserts, where high density is either butt-fused (heat) together or joined with compression couplings. Butt fusion creates a stronger bond, though compression couplings and fittings are quicker to install. Both methods, when done correctly, are virtually leak-proof.

Over the past year, PFRA staff in the Dauphin District helped producers lay more than 20,000 feet of pipeline.

"Economics and quality of water are big factors for guys who are setting these lines up, and protecting the source is also a major concern," Ryz said. "If you have a quarter section across the road and you have a good well at the farm that you've spent a good chunk of money developing, without the lines you'd have to develop another water supply. This way, with the pasture lines, you just run water through a culvert to the quarter and the cost is reasonable to install it."

One livestock producer who has recently added a pasture pipeline system to his operation is Ernie Bayduza. Bayduza runs a livestock operation on 1,200 acres near Dauphin. With a 100 cow/calf operation, a reliable water supply is crucial for his success.

"Last fall I cleaned out my dugouts and they were getting tramped in - the cows were going in and getting all mud-trodden, so I started looking at other options," said Bayduza. "It was around the end of July that I got some troughs hooked up to it. With all of the clamps and fittings, I was unsure about how this system was going to work, but everything finally came together and since then it's been working really well. The cattle seem to have taken a liking to it."

PFRA, Bayduza and the Intermountain Conservation District (IMCD) worked together to complete the pipeline project. Along with designing and engineering the system, PFRA staff also recommended Bayduza use the high density line. Bayduza used a plough developed by PFRA and IMCD to install his line underground.

Before pasture pipelines, Bayduza used a series of dugouts to quench his cattle's thirsts. Drawbacks of this method included the need to monitor his cattle more closely, uneven grazing of fields, and less than desirable water quality.

Now, he says he's noticed an increase in the size of his animals, noting they walk right past unfenced dugouts on route to troughs in the field.

Bayduza currently has 5,000 feet of pipe set up on his land, which takes water from the farm's main well, and plans to add more line in coming years.