For sizing the water storage use the following cattle water consumption rates for cattle on pasture.
Gravity fed water system cattle.
They are generally sized to hold a three to seven day supply of water for cattle.
But you do need elevation differences on your ranch to make it work.
This allows cattle to make more efficient use of forage and also minimizes the amount of ground sacrificed for lanes to and from watering points both of which reduce erosion.
It requires no pumps and no power.
Gravity flow watering from ponds.
If it is set up right it is my most dependable and least expensive system.
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.
Yearling steers or heifers 8 gallons per day 36 l.
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.
One key point of the kerr center livestock program s approach to water management is as much as possible to take the water to the cattle in the pasture.