Automatic Float Valves for Livestock Watering

GaryBDavis · Jul 10, 2006

I've just finished my new shop out at the farm and I've put in a couple of new water troughs for the cows as the well equipment is now housed inside the shop. I've never been happy with the cheesy float valves we buy for $10 at the local farm supply. I've used the nice ones that are all brass, but our stupid cows always messed with the exposed float ball. I either need a better float valve set up or smarter cows.

Anyone have a good float valve setup that is proven to stand up to the test of time and stupid cows. Pictures would be great.

Thanks.

jamath · Jul 10, 2006

Mark this a another request for water trough ideas. I have one water trough that is fed by a pond that uses a similar type of float that is used ( or abused) by the cows. It doesn't last more than a week at a time before the float is out of commission and the pond water goes right out the overflow. Help??

ns_in_tex · Jul 10, 2006

GaryBDavis said:
I've just finished my new shop out at the farm and I've put in a couple of new water troughs for the cows as the well equipment is now housed inside the shop. I've never been happy with the cheesy float valves we buy for $10 at the local farm supply. I've used the nice ones that are all brass, but our stupid cows always messed with the exposed float ball. I either need a better float valve set up or smarter cows.

Anyone have a good float valve setup that is proven to stand up to the test of time and stupid cows. Pictures would be great.

Thanks.

Hi Gary,

Not sure I have the answer, but several years ago, I was feeling the same way and decided to try one of the commode tank floats where the float rides up and down the stand pipe. I do have it covered with sheet metal to keep the cows away & help with the freezing. I am afraid to say this, but so far it has worked flawlessly. Also runs the water faster than the old trough floats.

GaryBDavis · Jul 10, 2006

Yeah, we have to construct covers on ours to keep the cows off. Our bull especially likes to use the water faucet as a scratching post. Good thing it's in cement. I guess there's no other way.

dubba · Jul 11, 2006

We have goats that like to chew on anything & everything. You might be able to modify our remedy to your requirements.

We use a rubbermaid? grey plastic trough. It has a fitting for the heater in the middle of one side at the bottom. Position the trough along the fence line with the heater fitting next to the fence. Run a black plastic pipe from the heater fitting at least 4' beyond the fence line. Take an old 5 gallon bucket & put a fitting in the bottom for the plastic pipe. Put your automatic waterer in the 5 gallon bucket. We have to put a couple of cement blocks around the pipe so they don't chew on that. Have a nice day

turnkey4099 · Jul 11, 2006

Yep, it doesn't matter what float valve you put in, you have to cover it or the animals -will- destroy it. Mine is next to a fencepost with a wooden mini shed over the valve.

Harry K

Soundguy · Jul 11, 2006

GaryBDavis said:
I've just finished my new shop out at the farm and I've put in a couple of new water troughs for the cows as the well equipment is now housed inside the shop. I've never been happy with the cheesy float valves we buy for $10 at the local farm supply. I've used the nice ones that are all brass, but our stupid cows always messed with the exposed float ball. I either need a better float valve set up or smarter cows.

Anyone have a good float valve setup that is proven to stand up to the test of time and stupid cows. Pictures would be great.

Thanks.

I've used both the metal and plastic shrouded float valves. only had cows mess with the plastic one once.

TSC carries one that has a cast aluiminum or pot metal shroud over it ( or they 'did ).. Still a cow could beat it if they wanted to.

I've used timber to build a 'top' shroud over the top of the housing on a plastic one.. and had it hold up in my round pen for a couple years now.

Soundguy

Luremaker · Jul 13, 2006

I have been using this cheap float valve for over 10 years with no problems. I use if from April to December for 20-25 heffers and 1 bull.

Soundguy · Jul 13, 2006

That's real similar to the cheap plastic on that is in my round pen right now.

Soundguy

GaryBDavis · Jul 13, 2006

Luremaker said:
I have been using this cheap float valve for over 10 years with no problems. I use if from April to December for 20-25 heffers and 1 bull.

Yep, that's pretty much what we use. If you have a fence to put it up against, that helps protect them. However, my troughs are out in the open.

I like dubba's idea, but I'm thinking on trying to modify it to my situation. I'll install a vertical piece of 6" diameter PVC pipe next to the trough and install a pipe between the two using the threaded drain plug on the water trough. I'll cap the 6" PVC to keep the cows from messing with it and install a float valve in it and connect the water pipe to it just below the ground. Since the two will be piped together, the water level will stay the same in each. This way, the float is enclosed and the cows can't mess with it. I can also insulate it to help protect against freezing weather which is mild here in central Texas.

Now, I just need to find a good way to connect the small diameter water pipe and tank pipe to such a large diamer PVC.

What do you guys think?