“No-Spill” Water Bowls Have High-Flow Valves

“No-Spill” Water Bowls Have High-Flow Valves DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS Dairy farmer Andrew Kenny got tired of watching cows splash water out of their water bowls and getting feed wet so he developed a polyethylene water bowl that’s deeper than regular bowls The end result is less waste and easier-to-clean feed mangers
    The patent pending Kendu Zero Spill water bowl has a high-flow tube valve located low inside it The animal activates the valve by pushing it in any direction The water level is maintained at about 2 in in the bottom of the bucket The animals can’t raise the water level above 2 in unless they submerge their nostrils to access the valve
    “The distance from the water surface to the rim of the bucket is at least 8 in The water volume is similar to standard water bowls but the remaining volume of the bucket is intended only to keep splashes contained ” says Kenny
    According to Kenny there hasn’t been a major change in water bowl design since 1918 “Modern water bowls offer higher flow and some offer higher volumes However one basic flaw in the design has never been successfully addressed Cows love to splash water out of the bowl for hours at a time when they’re bored Over a day 10 to 20 quarts could easily be splashed onto their feed or bedding
    “Cows don’t like to finish their feed once it’s wet so they leave it for the farmer to clean up and discard This wasted feed can cost thousands of dollars per year Wet bedding creates health problems for the cows such as soft hooves and ulcers as well as mastitis Dry comfortable stalls allow the cows to achieve top production
    “Water bowl manufacturers have recognized that water splashing out of their bowls is a major concern with farmers but their attempts to solve the problem haven’t been successful Several manufacturers have labeled their water bowls as ‘non-splash’ However I’ve tried them all and they simply don’t work ”
    Kenny says the Kendu water bowl will increase the water consumption of high producing cows “Cows can drink a large amount of water very quickly if it’s available If the water flow is too high in a traditional water bowl it’s likely to splash out of the shallow bowl so valves must be restricted to reduce the flow rate
    “In the deep bowl of the Zero Spill the valve can be unrestricted to allow maximum flow The flow restrictor can be removed to allow up to 25 liters per min at 50 psi so cows can fill up quickly and comfortably Milk production won’t be limited by the lack of water consumption ”
    He adds that the high rim of the bucket reduces the chance of a cow lifting feed into the bucket and the high flow valve scours the bottom of the bowl to keep it clean The high flow also keeps small particles of feed suspended in the water so they’re swallowed by the cow
    The Kendu Zero Spill water bowl is available in 2 models The KZS-13 sells for $98 Canadian plus S&H; the KZS-07 for $120 Canadian plus S&H Mounting hardware is available to make installation easier
    “The main difference is that the KZS-13 has a polyethylene bucket instead of rubber It’s our most popular model because poly is less expensive and the high density polyethylene bowl is virtually indestructible ” says Kenny
    “Customers can contact us toll-free to get assistance and suggestions for the best way to install and use our water bowls U S customers have their orders filled from a Buffalo N Y warehouse and pay 20 percent less with U S currency ”
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Andrew Kenny 11 Jamieson Crescent Beachburg Ontario Canada K0J 1C0 ph 866 482-3367; andrew@kenduinnovations com; www kenduinnovations com/tiestall html
    

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