January 14, 2008:
Off-site pasture watering for cattle is becoming more popular with cattle producers in all regions. Here are three common off-site watering systems.
Pump, drain below frost. Water is pumped from below the frost level into a drinking bowl. Once the cattle are finished drinking, the excess water drains back into a reservoir below the frost level to keep it from freezing.
Pump and retain heat in an insulated trough. These systems retain heat through insulation around the trough. The major advantage of this system is that it requires little power. However, it also requires some careful management to ensure that the water doesn't freeze.
Pump water and use heated tank. Some systems feature supplementary heat sources such as a stock tank heater powered by propane. "New systems are now available that utilize a solar pump, insulated waterer and low energy propane heating unit," says Ken Williamson, a water specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Food (AF). "These can operate for three to four weeks on as little as 20 lbs of propane."
More information is available here.