Water Troughs—Is Concrete Your Best Bet?

Electing to rear livestock in modern-day Australia is no easy task. The impinging drought is making it increasingly harder for herders to provide a constant supply of water to their animals, which has led them to invest in efficient water harvesting methods to make sure that they receive this resource. However, once you have your collection tank in place, you also need to figure out how to dispense this water to your animals. A timeless way of doing this is through water troughs. While wooden troughs were commonplace in years past, the search for sturdier and long lasting materials has led to an increasing demand for concrete troughs. So if you are looking to make a substantial investment for your livestock, below are some reasons elucidating why concrete is your best bet.

Concrete water troughs are weather resistant

Unquestionably, one of the first considerations to have when selecting a water trough for your livestock is how well it will put up with the changing elements. While plastic troughs may be resilient at the offset, the constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun will steadily degrade the materials. Resultantly, not only will your troughs require premature replacement but you will also have to contend with the risk of toxins becoming absorbed in the water. More so if the plastic troughs contain Bisphenol A (BPA), which is commonly incorporated into the manufacture of plastics. Concrete water troughs do not pose these risks, as they are astonishingly weather resistant. With concrete, you do not have to worry about rust, rot general deterioration. Just make sure you do not incorporate steel beams to fortify the troughs.

Concrete water troughs are perfectly weighted

The second consideration when deciding on which water trough to install for your animals is the sturdiness of the material. Some types of troughs may have to be reinforced with other materials to keep them from being pushed over by the cows, horses and other large mammals that may be drinking from it. Subsequently, you have to factor in additional costs for the guaranteed stability of the trough. Concrete water troughs provide you with a perfectly weighted solution without you having to pay extra installation costs. The thicker the concrete used to construct the trough, the less the likelihood of accidental tipping from overly zealous livestock. This stability also contributes to the safety of your trough because the animals will not be at risk of being injured by a receptacle that has a susceptibility to falling over.


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