Waterers: Clean Water for Sheep in the Shed and on Grass

Waterers: Water That Always Tops Itself Up

Without water the feed intake drops at once, and with it the milk yield and the growth of the lambs. A waterer therefore has to do two things: top up without you standing beside it, and not freeze in winter. For that we stock float valve drinking bowls in cast iron and plastic, field troughs of 150 and 380 litres and heated waterers with trace heating.

High pressure, low pressure and the right bowl

The first question is the pressure in your pipework. High pressure bowls such as the P-5 model at 1.65 litres connect straight to the normal mains supply and are the standard case in the shed. Low pressure bowls such as the SN190 work from an unpressurised storage vessel instead, for example a barrel set up higher, and are right wherever no pressure line runs. Fit the wrong bowl and the float valve will not close properly, so the waterer overflows. On material the handling decides: cast iron as on the 2 litre S190 is heavy, stands firm and is practically indestructible, while the enamelled 3 litre S195 is also easier to clean. Plastic as on the 3 litre S522 or the 5 litre S30 is lighter, cheaper and does not rust, but puts up with less rough treatment.

Frost proof through the winter

In winter the problem is not the bowl but the supply pipe. That is exactly where the heated Thermo Plus waterers come in. They are available with 31 watts and, with 73 watt trace heating, for longer runs of pipe as well. The heating keeps water and pipe above freezing instead of leaving you to thaw out ice afterwards. Out on the pasture you work differently: there field troughs of 150 or 380 litres supply a whole group from a reserve, and the S60 double bowls mount on a barrel, a wall or a pipe so that two animals drink at once.

Frequently asked questions

High pressure or low pressure?
High pressure on a mains connection, low pressure on an unpressurised vessel such as a barrel. The valve has to match the pressure.

Cast iron or plastic?
Cast iron is heavier, stands firmer and copes with rough treatment. Plastic is lighter and cheaper and does not rust.

How do I make the waterer frost proof?
With a heated version. The Thermo Plus comes with 31 watts and with 73 watt trace heating for the supply pipe.