Reticulated Water Systems – the benefits & more

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The Benefits of RPL don’t end with Easy Pipe Installation—Your Livestock Will Thrive Too

Hi, my name is Sarah, and I am here to walk you through:

    • Why Clean Water Matters for Livestock
    • Options to Improve Water Quality
    • How to maximise your benefits when installing reticulated water
    • And why you might want to consider a Ripper Pipe Layer as part of your reticulated water project

By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how a reticulated water system can benefit your livestock, your farm, and the environment.

If you haven’t seen one of my articles before I’ll give you a brief background. I was born and raised on a farm so I understand the problems farmers face, I have experience selling Delmade machinery and have worked as a part of the sales team for quite a few years – so I have the knowledge to find the machine that’s going to work for your situation, and in my spare time I’m knocking out a Batchelor of Ag Science Degree in the hope of rounding out my knowledge.

Reticulated Water Systems – the benefits

Reticulated water systems offer significant advantages for your farm, the environment, and, most importantly, your livestock. As warmer months approach, can you be sure your dams or creeks will supply enough water? And will the water quality be good enough for your livestock?

When livestock drink directly from natural water sources like dams or creeks, they muddy the water, reducing its quality and often leading to them drinking less. These unimproved water sources come with many uncertainties. Let’s explore how a reticulated water system solves these problems and enhances your farm’s productivity.

Why Clean Water Matters

Studies show that cattle with easy access to clean, fresh drinking water consume more, eat more, and gain more weight. In one study, steers drinking from troughs with clean water gained 23% more weight than those drinking directly from open access dams (Dobes, Crane et al. 2021) The data speaks for itself - improving water quality can directly improve your farm’s bottom line.

Options to Improve Water Quality

One approach is to fence off your dams, reducing livestock’s direct access to water, which helps prevent contamination from mud, faecal matter, and urine. However, the most efficient and sustainable solution is to install a reticulated water system. By adding troughs and pipes, you not only provide cleaner drinking water, but your dams also benefit. Plants around the water source regenerate, holding banks together and naturally filtering the water.

Additionally, when troughs are placed at regular intervals in the paddocks, cattle expend less energy moving between grazing areas and watering points. This means more energy is devoted to weight gain, as evidenced by studies showing improved cattle growth in such setups (Hart, Bissio et al. 1993, Lardner, Kirychuk et al. 2005).

Maximising Your Investment

Installing a reticulated water system is a significant investment, so it is essential to evaluate the long term benefits and costs. Beyond the costs of pipes and troughs, labour is a key cost factor. Traditional methods for laying pipe can be labour intensive, involving multiple steps like laying out the pipe, ripping the line, placing the pipe in the trench, and backfilling - all while managing the potential risk of kinking the pipe.

One option for simplifying the process is to use a ripper pipe layer (RPL). Traditional methods often require a team of 2-4 people to handle tasks like trenching, laying pipe (physically unrolling the pipe), and backfilling. In contrast, an RPL streamlines these tasks, potentially reducing the labour needed to just 1-2 people. This makes it an efficient choice for medium to large size reticulated water systems, where savings in labour costs can quickly accelerate your return on investment (ROI).

Depending on your specific needs there are a number of different ways to get your pipe in the ground each approach has its advantages, so evaluating your situation and budget will help determine the most cost effective solution for you.

Balancing Costs and Benefits

While the upfront cost of equipment like an RPL will be more than a basic ripper/layer setup, the long term savings in labour and efficiency often justify the investment. By simplifying pipe installation and minimising man hours, you can start seeing financial benefits even before your cattle start benefiting from cleaner water and improved growth. However, it’s important to weigh these savings against factors such as initial equipment expenses, potential maintenance, and the scale of your operation.

A reticulated water system does more than just improve water quality - it enhances livestock productivity, reduces environmental impacts, and delivers long term financial benefits. Tools like ripper pipe layers offer a more efficient way to install these systems, reducing labour costs and speeding up your ROI.

As you plan for your farm’s future, consider the broader impact of cleaner water on your livestock’s health, your farm’s profitability, and the environment. With thoughtful planning and the right tools, you’ll pave the way for a healthier herd and a more profitable operation.

Have questions about reticulated water? Give the Delmade team a call 1800 335 623 we’re always happy to chat through various questions and scenarios and help you with the best decision to suit your farm!

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References:

Dobes, L., et al. (2021). "Increased livestock weight gain from improved water quality in farm dams: a cost benefit analysis " PLoS One 16(8).

Hart, R. H., et al. (1993). "Grazing systems, pasture size, and cattle grazing behaviour, distribution and gains " Journal of Range Management 46: 81-87.

Lardner, H. A., et al. (2005). "The effect of water quality on cattle performance on pasture." Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56: 97-104.






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