Floating Pump Protects Cows, Stream Banks

Floating Pump Protects Cows, Stream Banks LIVESTOCK Beef 21-2-2 "It's a great way to keep cattle out of water and protects stream banks from damage by livestock," says Orrin Hart about his innovative cattle watering system. Hart, a 73-year-old Claresholm, Alberta, rancher had help from his sons John and Andy. The device consists of a piston displacement pump mounted on pontoons. It pumps water from the creek to a 1,200-gal. holding tank located 200-ft. from the bank and 20 ft. above water level. Hart used two 15 ft. lengths of 6-in. dia. irrigation pipe to make pontoons by welding the pipes shut on the ends. A paddle wheel that drives the pump was made out of an old combine cylinder. He removed the rub bars and replaced them with eight 1 by 6-in. wood paddles. Pulleys and V-belts connect the wheel, which turns at about 16 rpm's, to the pump. The paddle wheel and pump, which move about one gallon of water per minute, mount in a wooden frame attached to the pontoons. A heavy cast iron wheel off a disk serves as an anchor. Water is pumped constantly as long as there is even the slightest current. It goes into the holding tank through a 1/2-in. dia. hose. From there, it supplies two 300-gal. troughs with water for Hart's registered Angus herd. "It works in as little as 6 in. of water," Hart says. "It saves cattle a trip down to the creek bank for a drink, protecting not only the animals but banks and water quality as well." Out-of-pocket expense was $540. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Orrin Hart, Box 578, Claresholm, Alberta, Canada TOL OTO (ph 403 625-2127 or 2060).

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