Better flow pays dividends

When Taranaki dairy farmer Andreas Danz decided to extend his water network to a neighbouring block, he did what comes naturally and called into Farm Source Kaponga to order about a kilometre of pipe.

But what followed turned a routine order into a smarter, long-term solution, and showed the value of getting expert eyes on the job before the pipe goes in the ground.

Store representative Dean Kane had just completed technical training with RXP in Hamilton and knew that pipe size could make or break a water system. “As soon as Andreas specified the pipe he needed, I thought, he’s going to need it to be bigger than he thinks,” says Dean. “He’d just bought land next door, and pushing water further, especially uphill, needs pressure and that means a greater diameter.”

Rather than simply processing the sale, Dean arranged for RXP Territory Manager Shane Tarrant to visit the farm. With digital terrain mapping and flow-rate modelling software, the team plotted falls, rises, and distance to troughs. “When Andreas saw the computer model, he realised his original plan would never push enough water to the back of the farm,” says Dean. “We produced a new layout and upsized the pipe – 50 mm 950 series for the main line, plus 950.32 for laterals. It future-proofed the whole system.”

For Andreas, that hands-on approach made all the difference. “I went into it with the usual ’she’ll-be-right’ attitude,” he says. “I would’ve gone for too small a line. Dean brought the RXP rep out and he showed me the graphs and flow tables for different pipe sizes. It was a bit more than I expected to spend before the conversation however we’ve ended up with a hell of a lot better water system than what we had before.”

The resulting system was immediately superior. 

Dean says it’s important that farmers take time to assess their water needs properly. “Good stock water equals happy cows, and happy cows produce the milk that pays for the land,” he says. “A lot of farmers feel they can just replicate what they already have, but if you’re pushing water further or higher, you need to size it right. The cost difference up front isn’t huge, but it saves having to dig it all up again later.”

That efficiency is reflected in reduced power consumption on the farm with the existing pump being able to cover more ground at the same usage.

The project also shows how technical training is translating directly into better outcomes on-farm.

“At that RXP training we got to assemble fittings and really understand the pressure and flow science,” Dean explains. “It sticks with you, and when I got back Andreas’ job came up straight away. It was perfect timing.”

For Andreas, the result speaks for itself. “At first, I thought bringing the technical rep out was unnecessary, but I learned quite a bit. It changed our decision on what pipe to use, increased our flow, and gave me confidence the cows won’t be short of water through summer. The whole process was seamless.”

Lesson learned: a quick chat can make a big difference. Before ordering pipe, talk to your Farm Source team about an RXP site visit. It could be the easiest way to secure better flow, better animal health, and a water system that’s built to last.

Contact your local TSR or drop into a Farm Source store to learn more about RXP’s stock water design service.

Article supplied by R X Plastics