They are generally sized to hold a three to seven day supply of water for cattle.
Gravity fed water system cattle.
The grazing infrastructure chapter of my book grass fed cattle provides detailed step by step calculations for calculating flow rates and water pressures for your cattle water system including how to account for pressure gains or losses caused by gravity.
It requires no pumps and no power.
And our newly established gravity fed water system is the right step for us at this time.
The handy quick reference tables provided in this chapter will help you calculate the pressure losses and changes in flow rates caused by friction inside your pipes for a wide range of pipe diameters for both polyethylene and pvc pipes.
But you do need elevation differences on your ranch to make it work.
Gravity flow watering from ponds.
For sizing the water storage use the following cattle water consumption rates for cattle on pasture.
If it is set up right it is my most dependable and least expensive system.
Yearling steers or heifers 8 gallons per day 36 l.
Most are raised above the stock tank to allow for the gravity flow of water.