So, when Jim and Elva Pinny, farmworkers on Keiran and Sue Crowley’s Palmer Road farm found their stock water system was leaving the dairy herd thirsty, they approached Farm Source for guidance.
Being part of the Waimate West Gravity Water Scheme and "at the end of the line", the Pinnys reported that the usual 80 PSI at the gate would drop away dramatically in the afternoons – just when their 160 strong herd of dairy cows and 40 calves were needing water most.
"When we finish milking, it's four o'clock in the afternoon and everyone else is just starting. So, the pressure really drops that time of the day," says Jim Pinny.
Farm Source offers a Stock Water design service for its customers in partnership with RXP. Customers needing a stock water design can approach Farm Source who work with RXP’s inhouse team of experts to develop a plan tailored to suit the particular needs of the farm.
Farm Source contacted RXP Territory Manager Shane Tarrant, who visited the Palmer Road Farm with Kaponga store’s Farm Source Customer Service Rep, Gerri Young to understand the challenge and create a scope of work for the RXP technical team. He found the farm was using low-density 20mm pipe in the front half of the farm, which was insufficient when the pressure dropped away.
"Seldom can you get enough water directly from the source to provide enough water for peak demand," Shane says. "So, the design needs to be futureproofed for variations in how herds are being managed."
"If the design does not consider all the possible locations of herds, the system may be put under too much pressure," he said.
The RXP team also consulted Google Earth and topographical maps to assess the landscape and to consider any obstacles they might encounter and other things such as undulations that could cause airlocks that also have to be considered during installation.
"We recommended a 50mm diameter main line through the middle of the farm and 32mm ring-mains in sections of the paddocks, all joined at both ends. That's quite a significant expansion, especially when it's ring-mained, so water's going both ways," Shane said.
The Pinnys also wanted a Dosatron mineral dispersing system installed which had to be factored into the plan as well. And in addition to the design work, the Pinnys also needed someone to install the system and Gopperth Contracting was recommended for the task.
Once the proposed plan was completed, RXP sent it to Farm Source Kaponga for preparation and submission of a quote. Then, Shane Tarrant had an on-site meeting with the Pinnys, farm owners Keiran and Sue Crowley and Mark Gopperth to make a plan of how it was to be installed.
The Pinnys also wanted to take the opportunity to upgrade valves and ballcocks as required, and "troughs that were a bit crooked" were levelled up as part of the service. Plus, the installation had to be done during milking, so Gopperths worked with the herdsmen to make it happen.
"The whole team did an excellent job," says Elva Pinny.
"I've never had service like it before, I can't praise them enough," she says.
Now, with a sparkling new stock water system the Palmer Road Farm cows are happy with adequate water throughout the day. The Pinnys are already seeing more milk in the vat as a result.
"The cows are still keeping up with it, but it's a hundred percent to what it was. We've got no complaints on any of it. Our cows are in the best condition that they've been," says Elva.
"It’s not just good, it’s excellent!"
If you’re seeing empty troughs or limited performance from your gravity-fed stock water system, contact your local Farm Source store and ask about the RXP stock water design service.
Article supplied by RXP.