Water Tanks For Sale

About Livestock Water Tanks

A livestock tank, sometimes referred to as a “stock tank” “trough,” or “water system,” provides clean drinking water to cows, horses, and other farm animals, especially if they are located far away from the nearest water source.

There are a wide range of livestock water tanks available from an equally wide range of sources. For example, some farming operations will use a water pump to fill a tank, which may be ideal for more arid climates, while others may take advantage of rainfall or nearby streams and waterways to offer a more natural water source for animals. There are also special covered tanks that capture rain water and prevent evaporation.

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Ritchie CattleMaster 10T Livestock Water Tank

Capacity & Size

The size of a livestock tank is important for two reasons. The first is that it needs to be large and deep enough to hold the proper amount of water for the number of animals that will use it. The second is that there needs to be enough room around the exterior of the tank for multiple animals to gather safely and comfortably. As such, the makeup of your herd is crucial to selecting the right water tank.

Experts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln say that as a rule, cows need roughly one gallon (3.8 liters) of water per 100 pounds (45 kilograms) of body weight on a daily basis, but that’s in colder weather. In the summer heat, that figure could increase to as much as 2 gal (7.6 L) or more. Plus, lactating cows need more water than dry cattle—twice as much in some cases. This means that one cow may need anywhere from 3 to 30 gal (11 to 113 L), or more, every day.

Livestock tank capacities typically range anywhere from 80 to 1,000 gal (303 to 3,785 L) or more, but before you choose a capacity it’s a good idea to decide whether you want to establish one or multiple watering areas. Using one large tank means fewer refills, which can save valuable time and effort, but using multiple smaller tanks can help you ensure proper spacing and encourage cows to utilize more of the available pasture. More compact tanks may also be better-suited to watering sheep, goats, and other smaller animals.

Many livestock tanks are “round-end” tanks with an oval shape, while others are circular or rectangular. An oval 150-gal (568-L) tank, for example, might be 2 ft (0.6 m) wide by 6 ft (1.8 m) long with a depth of 2 ft, whereas a circular 1,100-gal (4,164-L) tank may have a 10-ft (3-m) diameter, also with a depth of 2 ft. Oval and rectangular tanks generally take up less space, but have corners that may create crowding issues for larger stock. Circular tanks typically allow more animals to fit around them, but require more dedicated corral or pasture space.

Common Construction

Livestock tanks are most commonly built from metal, concrete, and plastic or fiberglass. Metal and concrete units are considered the most durable, but with concrete, you’ll want to be sure of the location before putting them in place, as they are much heavier than other tanks and may be more difficult to move. Metal tanks are typically made from galvanized steel or aluminum, and some have plastic liners to ensure water purity.

Plastic tanks are the next in line in terms of durability, and can more easily be installed or relocated because they are much lighter. Depending on the exact material, they may be better able to stand up to direct sunlight without warping or cracking. Fiberglass tanks, on the other hand, are a bit more fragile and susceptible to cracking, so they may not be the best choice for watering larger animals, especially in harsher climates.

Find The Right Livestock Tank

You will find a large selection of livestock water tanks for sale on TractorHouse.com from such popular brands as Johnson Concrete, Miraco, and Ritchie, among others.