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Livestock Water Tanks for Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Goats
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A poly storage tank keeps water on hand for your herd when the well pump, windmill or power goes down, and lets you haul or pipe water to pastures that have none. Our one-piece HDPE tanks are rotationally molded in Willis, Texas, with fittings installed where you need them for a float valve, trough line or fill.
How Much Water Does Your Stock Drink?
| Animal | Gallons per head per day |
|---|---|
| Milking dairy cow | 35 to 45 |
| Dry dairy cow | 20 to 30 |
| Heifer | 10 to 15 |
| Beef animal | 8 to 12 |
| Horse | 12 |
| Goat | 2 to 4 |
| Sheep | 2 |
Typical figures from the Midwest Plan Service Private Water Systems Handbook, as published by UNH Extension. Animals drink more in hot weather and when milking or nursing, so size for your hottest month.
Sizing a Livestock Water Tank
Multiply the number of animals by the gallons each drinks per day, then by the number of days of reserve you want on hand.
Example: 50 beef cows × 12 gallons × 3 days of reserve = 1,800 gallons. A 2,000 gallon tank covers that with room to spare. On a hot summer day the same herd can drink more, so many ranchers round up.
- A useful rule of thumb from University of Nebraska Extension: a nursing beef cow needs about 2 gallons of water per 100 pounds of body weight each day, and a dry cow or bull about 1 gallon.
- If the tank is your only source, size for the longest stretch you could go without refilling it.
- For rainwater-fed tanks, see Rainwater Harvesting Tanks.
Choosing the Tank
- Color: black and green tanks block sunlight to help prevent algae in stored water. See our water tanks and tank colors.
- Shape: vertical tanks hold the most water for the ground they cover; horizontal tanks sit low and haul on a trailer or truck to pastures.
- Fittings: a bottom outlet to feed a trough float, a top fill, and a vent. See fittings and options.
- Placement: set the tank on a level, solid pad. See our installation guidelines.
Tell us your herd size, flock size or acreage and we will help size the tank. Call Sales – 936-228-1520 Request a Quote
★ Made in the USA ★ Willis, Texas ★