Just curious....has anyone set up a watering station in/near your feed pen? We don't have any tanks on our property and the cattle water pumps are turned off when the cows are removed. Is there an economical/practical way to set up a watering station?...I'm looking into using 275 gallon totes...

Take you a tote & run pvc to a trough. I use the red horse waterers from tractor supply. Bury it in the ground. The smaller the trough the better. Less evaporation. The animals will love you for it!

There are other threads over the years with quite a few in that 3 year drought time frame back when. Here are a few from a quick searh

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/6234487/1

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I agree on the smaller the better. We have a small concrete through that is about 2ft x 3ft and only holds about 2" - 3" of water, it has a protected cover for the float. No need for sticks or rocks in it for drowning animals to escape. We put it in the shade and it has never run the 500 gallon tank dry even in a drought. The tank is filled by catchment from the barn.

Thanks for the ideas fellas....gonna test this out with a 275gal tote to start.

Here's a pic of mine. Later buried the black tub. Small tub=less evaporation. I fill from a 65 gallon tank in pickup bed.

Got a spot picked out in the shade so once the LO pulls the cattle, I'll get it set up and see how it works. I'll be using the same basic set up you have and will bury the bucket/tub. Thinking of using something a bit larger but less deep.

More surface area= more evaporation
And deeper =cooler

any need to "cover" the tote to prevent algae?

Add a little powdered 'shock treatment'. A tablespoon is probably all you need.

There is a float switch on hose to prevent tub run over.

picture worth a lot

Buy a potable water tote. Already painted dark or rough sandpaper the tote and paint with dark auto paint. Will keep mildew and algae from forming. Both need light to grow.