Machinery & Infrastructure
1 March, 2026
Consider stock water quality after fire
THE impact of the Victorian fires on farmers and livestock has been significant.
Along with feed, a reliable supply of good quality water is essential for stock retained on affected properties.
Water is critical to avoiding health issues, maintaining production and meeting animal welfare needs.
Unfortunately, in many cases, water tanks, pipes, troughs, and pumps have been destroyed or damaged due to these fires.
Even where this infrastructure is still operational, if larger numbers of stock are confined to a small area of the farm, it can result in inadequate water supply.
At this time of year beef cattle can consume up to 100 litres per day and sheep up to 10 litres per day, with lactating animals requiring even more.
At these rates, a semi-trailer load of water would be needed every six to seven days for 50 cattle or 500 sheep.
While meeting daily water demand is an essential requirement, it is equally important to ensure trough flow rates are adequate.
Low flow rates can lead to health and welfare problems, increased competition at troughs, and damage to water infrastructure or surrounding fencing.
Under normal conditions, livestock should be able to access their full daily water requirement within a four-hour period.
This helps manage peak demand, reduce competition, and support dry matter intake.
For 50 cattle or 500 sheep, this equates to a required trough flow rate of 21 litres per minute.
In emergency situations, a lower flow rate may be acceptable provided animals can still access enough water and are monitored daily.
A typical emergency supply might involve a tank, a 100m length of two-inch polyethylene pipe and a trough.
To achieve a flow rate of 21 litres per minute, a minimum two metre head of water would be required.
This could be achieved by maintaining a base volume of two metres of water or by raising the tank up on a mound of well compacted soil.
When setting up an emergency water supply consider raising your tank on a compacted soil mound to increase trough flow rate, using appropriate fittings that allow quick and easy tanker connection and choosing high quality, brand name, pipe and fittings for durability.
It is also suggested using a trough designed for easy cleaning, place troughs to ensure good drainage (e.g. on a raised mound), ensure trough height suits all classes of stock and ensure adequate trough length of four metres for stock numbers described above.
Make sure you install tanks, troughs, pipes and fittings in a way that minimises the risk of stock injury.
For more on fire recovery support and information, visit www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/bushfires or call 136 186.