Water trough size

[hagabel]

HI there. Just purchasing our first Dexters in 4 weeks. A cow in calf with 1st calf, due in July/August and a yearling steer. I have a concrete water trough in 1 pasture but need another one (more portable) that we can move from pasture to pasture when we use other side of property. Should I get a 90L or 275 L water trough?

Thanks.

[dexterfarm]

how will you fill it and how often do you plan to move it?

[hagabel]

Fill it up by hose (or rain, lots of rain right now) and would move it maybe every couple of weeks. Possibly more in summer when lots of grass and rotating more.

[dexterfarm]

since you have a water close enough. I use a 20 gal tub and a auto water on top. www.jefferspet.com/products/automatic-float-valve-plastic-case

[triplec]

How high of a trough for a young Dexter?

[wvdexters]

Be careful of the height. The galvanized stock tanks can be a little too tall for young calves, especially if you have dwarf dexters (chondro carriers). The little guys can reach the top, but they can't get a good drink once the water level goes down a bit.

[hagabel]

Thanks for all of your replies. Few more questions if you can humor me!

I am picking up 2 Dexter's (1 12 month old steer) and 1 2 yr old heifer in calf next week. Wanted to know what vaccinations people use?

The vet mentioned 5 in 1 for all of them and Lepto but the breeders do not use all of the vaccinations the vet was talking about.

I understand the cow in calf needs Magnesium last 2 months. Do you use a block? or administer some other way. How often do you drench?

Thanks.

[hagabel]

Thanks for all of your replies. Few more questions if you can humor me!

I am picking up 2 Dexter's (1 12 month old steer) and 1 2 yr old heifer in calf next week. Wanted to know what vaccinations people use?

The vet mentioned 5 in 1 for all of them and Lepto but the breeders do not use all of the vaccinations the vet was talking about.

I understand the cow in calf needs Magnesium last 2 months. Do you use a block? or administer some other way. How often do you drench?

Thanks.

[RedRidge]

I keep smaller tanks in a creep area for calves for 2 reasons... a) they cannot reach the taller one, and b) it prevents the older cows from drinking it and/or standing in it. And yes, if it's small, they LOVE to stand in them to cool off.

I use the tallest tanks I can get by with four the yearlings and older because again, they WILL stand in them.

[dexterfarm]

minerals and vaccinations are going to be dependent on your situation and the area you are in. I dont vaccinate for anything. For minerals I use trace mineral blocks and if I feel I need a little more they also make blocks that have much hire mineral content. I dont like dealing with loose minerals.

[zephyrhillsusan]

Here's a recent discussion we had here about vaccines.

dextercattle.proboards.com/thread/4496/routine-vaccinations-use

I do vaccinate because I don't want to risk my animals' health or even their life from the various communicable diseases that are in the environment.  There's pinkeye, tetanus, rabies, leptospirosis, neospora, blackleg and others, not to mention diseases that can be passed to your cattle by any bull who jumps a fence and breeds a cow or any animals you buy and bring onto your property.  

I don't drench with magnesium.  They have high quality loose minerals available free choice.  In the spring I mix a high-mag loose mineral in with the regular one because they don't like the taste of it and won't eat it straight.

[hagabel]

May 12, 2015 9:53:47 GMT -5 dexterfarm said:

minerals and vaccinations are going to be dependent on your situation and the area you are in. I dont vaccinate for anything. For minerals I use trace mineral blocks and if I feel I need a little more they also make blocks that have much hire mineral content. I dont like dealing with loose minerals.

Thanks for all of your replies. We are mid north island New Zealand.