Sheep water troughs: what to look for when you choose one

If you are picking a sheep water trough for a containment pen or for paddock use, five things decide whether it works: enough accessible edge for the mob, a long shallow shape you can empty quickly, a large outlet and gate valve, fittings that stock cannot get at, and a position away from feed on ground that drains. Agriculture Victoria's guidance for stock containment areas covers most of it, and the figures below come from that page unless stated otherwise.

Start with the mob, not the trough

Work out what the stock will drink first. Agriculture Victoria lists peak demand of 10 litres per head per day for dry sheep, 14 for lactating ewes and 6 for weaner lambs. A mature sheep on dry feed in summer might use 8 to 10 litres a day, while the same animal on dry feed in winter might use less than 4 litres.

A reticulated supply should deliver the daily peak demand in 4 hours, so all stock get a chance to drink regularly. The worked example given is a minimum flow rate of 21 litres per minute for 500 dry sheep. If your line cannot do that, no trough will fix it.

Length and access

Agriculture Victoria says a suitable trough for 500 sheep would typically have 8 to 10 metres of accessible trough edge with a storage capacity of 400 to 600 litres. The Meat & Livestock Australia feedlot design manual points out that available length is the trough length less the length taken up by float protection, so a cover inside the trough reduces what your sheep can use.

That manual is written for cattle feedlots, but its shape advice carries across. Rectangular troughs fit along fence lines, are easier to clean inside and out, and give more linear space than a round trough of the same capacity.

A shallow profile and a low volume

Long, narrow and shallow beats large, deep and round. Agriculture Victoria says a long shallow trough with a smooth internal profile, a gate valve and a large outlet bung makes cleaning quick and efficient. The feedlot manual gives the other reason: the water you tip out with each clean is minimised by low volume troughs, and a smooth u-shaped or trapezoid cross section gives sediment nowhere to sit.

Outlet, drainage and cleaning

In a containment area, troughs need to be emptied, cleaned and refilled every 1 to 2 days, so look hard at the outlet. The feedlot manual asks for a large drainage outlet positioned so the water runs away from the trough, preferably to a drain, and describes a stand pipe that is unscrewed to open the discharge bung and carries overflow away if a float valve jams.

Fittings and keeping the level full

The water level must be kept close to full at all times, which takes both a sound supply and a suitable outlet or float valve. Agriculture Victoria wants the float valve to be high quality, with an appropriate capacity and pressure rating, and fully protected by a durable, stock-proof cover. Taps, risers and elbows are easily damaged by stock, so the preferred option is a trough where all the fittings are fully enclosed within the trough design.

Materials and what sits under it

Of steel, concrete and polyethylene, Agriculture Victoria prefers concrete for its durability, strength and ability to hold water at a more constant temperature. The feedlot manual asks for a life expectancy of ten years or more, and says polyethylene or fibreglass should be ultraviolet resistant or carry a durable coating. Set whatever you buy on a raised pad of gravel, stone or concrete so the ground drains and the trough stays stable.

Where you put it

Keep troughs away from feeding areas to limit contamination. The feedlot manual explains why: stock hold grain on the muzzle after feeding and carry it across, so a trough near the feed needs cleaning more often. Avoid any spot that blocks drainage. Evidence from recent droughts also shows stock avoid or reduce consumption of water that is warm, stagnant, polluted with food residues, or has dust or straw floating on it.

One option with the flush built in

A self-flushing trough is one way to handle the emptying. The SATURN trough we sell is 2,225 mm long by 430 mm wide and 350 mm deep, with a drinking length of 1,950 mm and a volume of 50 litres, and it uses about 60 litres per flush at one to two flushes a day depending on stock numbers. It needs a supply at 200 to 1,000 kPa, which is 2 to 10 bar, and the refill is a mechanical float valve that needs no power. Those are all manufacturer figures. Set that drinking length against the 8 to 10 metres of edge Agriculture Victoria suggests for 500 sheep: one trough suits a smaller mob and a bigger mob needs several.

What we recommend

Measure your flow rate and count your mob, then shortlist on accessible edge, a shallow smooth profile, a large outlet and enclosed fittings. Those four decide how long you spend at the trough every week. If a self-flushing trough looks like it might fit, test it on your own farm before you commit, which is what our free 90-day trial in Victoria is for.