Watering Livestock in the Winter
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
Watering Livestock in the Winter
Allison Kosto
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
From experience, I can attest that one of the biggest hassles with owning livestock in our climate is dealing with water during the winter. The first cold snap is the first big test on whether your watering system or strategies hold up to the freezing temperatures. The next big test comes when the temperature reaches subzero, which brings it to a whole new level.
Water is the most essential nutrient for livestock and it’s important not to let water challenges take the backburner during the winter. The good news is that livestock need less water in colder temperatures, but that doesn’t make it less important. They still need access to fresh water on a continual basis. Additionally, animals prefer water to be between 40- and 65-degrees F.
On average, a non-lactating animal consumes one gallon of water per 100 pounds of body weight per day in the winter. For example, a goat needs 1-3 gallons of water while a horse needs 10-12 gallons. However, this number can vary significantly based on environmental conditions and feed sources. As temperatures drop, animals need to consume more feed to maintain energy levels. In most cases, this means more hay, which is dry and results in animals also increasing water intake. If you have a feed source that has higher moisture content, such as haylage, then they will need less water.
Livestock can get some of their water needs from snow, but it is typically not enough. In warm open winters like this one, it is not even an option. A natural water source is an option for watering, if available. In the winter, it is important to check it daily. If the water is moving, such as a creek, or fed by a natural spring, then it might stay mostly clear until the temperatures drop well below freezing. Animals will often break through a thin layer of ice but that is not always a guarantee. Once ice starts to form then you need to break the ice daily or even multiple times a day. The key is to break the ice in a way that animals can easily access it.
Stocktanks are the most common livestock water source. The two most common strategies to prevent or reduce freezing is the use of electric heaters or a continuous flow system. Make sure to check the tank daily, though, because if a heater fails, it does not take long for ice to form. Another danger with electric heaters is risk of electrical short through the water. We had this happen to our horses a few years ago. Watch their behavior and check the water if you think this might be an issue. If you utilize a continuous flow system, make sure the overflow value or location directs water away from the tank to prevent mud and ice around the tank.
If neither of these are possible, then it will be necessary to break ice daily or multiple times a day. Remove the ice to prevent it from freezing up faster and to make it easier for livestock to drink. If you have to haul water to your livestock, this becomes an even bigger challenge once it becomes impossible to use hoses. You may want to consider storing the hoses inside.
There are a variety of stock tank system designs that utilize geothermal heat to prevent freezing. Many of these designs utilize heat tubes that are buried deep into the ground, allowing the geothermal heat to rise and keep water supply lines open and the tank thawed. If designed correctly, these systems can do a good job keeping the lines from freezing, but they may not be totally ice free. It is still common to have a thin layer of ice on the drinking area on colder days because there is no heat source in the actual water tank. Smaller tanks or drinking areas tend to do better. Another strategy is to bury a majority of the holding tank in the ground to utilize soil as insulation and capitalize on more geothermal heat.
Regardless of your choice and available options, be prepared with a backup plan for when something goes wrong. Because chances are that at least once this winter there will be a problem! If you have further questions, contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or allison.kosto@montana.edu.
