freeze proof stock tanks livestock and...

Freeze Proof Stock Tanks Freeze Proof Stock Tanks Livestock and WildlifeLivestock and Wildlife

Terry BidwellTerry BidwellNatural Resource Ecology andNatural Resource Ecology andNatural Resource Ecology and Natural Resource Ecology and

Management, OSUManagement, OSU

OverviewOverview

•• Proper Pond Construction Proper Pond Construction –– NRCSNRCS•• FencingFencingFencingFencing•• Freeze Proof Stock TanksFreeze Proof Stock Tanks

B fit t Li t kB fit t Li t k•• Benefits to LivestockBenefits to Livestock•• Benefits to WildlifeBenefits to Wildlife

C lt ith th N t l RC lt ith th N t l RConsult with the Natural Resources Consult with the Natural Resources Conservation Service for site selection, Conservation Service for site selection,

dam design and physical layoutdam design and physical layoutdam design, and physical layoutdam design, and physical layout

Proper Pond Construction Proper Pond Construction

•• Dams should always have a primary Dams should always have a primary (pipe) spillway and emergency (earthen)(pipe) spillway and emergency (earthen)(pipe) spillway and emergency (earthen) (pipe) spillway and emergency (earthen) spillwayspillway

FencingFencing

•• Ponds should fenced to excludePonds should fenced to excludePonds should fenced to exclude Ponds should fenced to exclude livestocklivestock

•• Construction should be a 4 or 5 strandConstruction should be a 4 or 5 strand•• Construction should be a 4 or 5 strand Construction should be a 4 or 5 strand barbed wire fence with at least one gate barbed wire fence with at least one gate for emergency livestock access andfor emergency livestock access andfor emergency livestock access and for emergency livestock access and heavy equipmentheavy equipment

Fencing BenefitsFencing Benefitsgg

•• Improved water quality to control twoImproved water quality to control twoImproved water quality to control two Improved water quality to control two major parasites in cattlemajor parasites in cattle–– Liver flukesLiver flukesLiver flukesLiver flukes–– CoccidosisCoccidosis (most important in Oklahoma)(most important in Oklahoma)

Liver FlukesLiver Flukes

•• Snails are an intermediate hostSnails are an intermediate host•• Flukes attach to grass during high waterFlukes attach to grass during high waterFlukes attach to grass during high water Flukes attach to grass during high water

and when water recedes, flukes are and when water recedes, flukes are ingested by cattleingested by cattleingested by cattleingested by cattle

•• Flukes damage the liver and thus Flukes damage the liver and thus reduce livestock body condition andreduce livestock body condition andreduce livestock body condition and reduce livestock body condition and performanceperformance

CoccideousCoccideous

•• Parasite resides in pond mudParasite resides in pond mud•• Wading cattle stir up the mud and the Wading cattle stir up the mud and the g pg p

parasite and is ingested through parasite and is ingested through drinkingdrinking

•• Parasite destroys the epithelium in Parasite destroys the epithelium in rumenrumen

•• Livestock symptoms are anemia, bloody Livestock symptoms are anemia, bloody diarrhea, and secondary infectionsdiarrhea, and secondary infections

Fencing BenefitsFencing Benefits

•• Improved water quality for increased Improved water quality for increased fish production and better appearancefish production and better appearancep ppp pp

•• Less turbidityLess turbidity–– Improved spawning habitat for fishImproved spawning habitat for fish–– Improved spawning habitat for fishImproved spawning habitat for fish–– Improved productivity of the pondImproved productivity of the pond

•• Downside may be too many aquaticDownside may be too many aquatic•• Downside may be too many aquatic Downside may be too many aquatic plantsplants


•• Elimination of livestock falling through Elimination of livestock falling through the ice during snow coverthe ice during snow covergg–– NotNot a common occurrence but is a common occurrence but is

catastrophic if it happens to your cattle catastrophic if it happens to your cattle p pp yp pp yoperationoperation


•• Creates diversity of Creates diversity of cover types having cover types having ungrazedungrazed vegetation vegetation inside the fence next inside the fence next to grazed vegetationto grazed vegetationto grazed vegetation to grazed vegetation outside the fence outside the fence ((e ge g bobwhite quail)bobwhite quail)((e.ge.g bobwhite quail)bobwhite quail)


•• Improves nesting habitat for waterfowl Improves nesting habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife species that require and other wildlife species that require p qp qungrazedungrazed nesting covernesting cover

•• Reduces soil erosion around the pondReduces soil erosion around the pondReduces soil erosion around the pond Reduces soil erosion around the pond banks and lengthens the life of the pond banks and lengthens the life of the pond damdamdamdam

Fencing NonFencing Non--BenefitsBenefits

•• Not all wildlife will use a pond that has Not all wildlife will use a pond that has tallgrasstallgrass around the shore because it inhibits around the shore because it inhibits their visiontheir vision predator avoidancepredator avoidancetheir vision their vision –– predator avoidancepredator avoidance

•• ExamplesExamplesMourning doveMourning dove–– Mourning doveMourning dove

–– Shore birdsShore birdsS bi dS bi d–– Some songbirdsSome songbirds

Freeze Proof Stock TanksFreeze Proof Stock Tanks

•• Utilize water from the pond through a Utilize water from the pond through a pipe installed through the dampipe installed through the damp p gp p g

•• ThreeThree--fourths of the tank is buried fourths of the tank is buried underground for insulationunderground for insulationunderground for insulationunderground for insulation

•• During very cold weather, a valve is During very cold weather, a valve is opened to allow water to trickle throughopened to allow water to trickle throughopened to allow water to trickle through opened to allow water to trickle through the tank to keep it from freezingthe tank to keep it from freezing

100 Gallon Tank Installation100 Gallon Tank Installation

– Not the best choice!Not the best choice!


•• Two sizes are available but based on Two sizes are available but based on our experience, the 200 gallon tank is our experience, the 200 gallon tank is p , gp , gpreferred over the 100 gallon tank preferred over the 100 gallon tank because it is much easier to install and because it is much easier to install and maintainmaintain–– Plumbs from the sidePlumbs from the sidePlumbs from the sidePlumbs from the side–– Twice the storage capacityTwice the storage capacity


•• Warmer water in the winter, cooler Warmer water in the winter, cooler water in the summerwater in the summerwater in the summerwater in the summer

Cattle like it!Cattle like it!

SummarySummary

•• Many benefits to excluding livestock Many benefits to excluding livestock from ponds and streamsfrom ponds and streamspp

•• Benefits are to livestock, fish, and many Benefits are to livestock, fish, and many but not all wildlife speciesbut not all wildlife speciesbut not all wildlife speciesbut not all wildlife species

•• Technical and cost share assistance is Technical and cost share assistance is availableavailableavailableavailable

SummarySummary

•• Cost share assistance may be available Cost share assistance may be available fromfrom–– Natural Resources Conservation Service Natural Resources Conservation Service

(NRCS)(NRCS)( )( )–– Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Oklahoma Department of Wildlife

Conservation Service (ODWC)Conservation Service (ODWC)–– U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

freeze proof stock tanks livestock and...

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