Choosing Gallagher's Automatic Waterers

Bryan Welch took a systematic approach to evaluate the pros and cons of a variety of companies' waterers purchasing five units of assorted brands to install across his farm.

Using a grass-based, organic management-style on his operation, Welch rotationally grazes his animals on approximately 50-acres of pastures which are split into a 6-paddock grid.

To improve water access across the property for his livestock, he placed waterers in each pasture and tested the tested the units over a course of four seasons with his mixed bag herd of livestock which currently includes 15 cattle, 120 sheep, 20 goats, one mule, and two donkeys. A small flock of chickens complete the farm animal menagerie.

"It's incredibly convenient to have automatic waterers," says Welch. "It fits the animals and it dramatically cuts down on the time one has to spend dealing with water situations."

Energy-Free vs Energy Efficient Waterers

Many designs of livestock waterers exist, Welch explains, "They're all basically the same:  a drinking reservoir fills automatically when a valve is triggered by a declining water level."

"We didn't want to use electricity, so we looked at only 'energy-free' models, designed to resist freezing without electricity," says Welch.

In regards, to "energy-free," Welch clarifies this means no electricity is necessary to operate the waterer or prevent freezing. It should be pointed out, though, that "energy efficient" models are also produced. These waterers are insulated heavily and use a low-drain electric heating system.

For either energy free or efficient models, supplemental heat sources may be needed to prevent freezing in extended periods of cold. Energy-free models are also more likely to freeze if they are not used by a certain minimum number of animals, says Welch. Producers with smaller operations should keep this in mind when researching automatic waterer brands and models.

"If you have a lot of animals on a single waterer, you reduce the chance that it will freeze because there's enough water flow to keep them functional," says Welch. "If just a few animals, there's a greater likelihood you're going to need a heated waterer."

"Continuous flow" models are also available, Welch explains, and prevent freezing by running water continuously through the container, with the surplus flowing into a drainage setup.

Before putting waterers into a pasture, Welch recommends planning carefully and making note of potential installation costs.

"The waterers themselves are relatively inexpensive, usually less than $700 or so," says Welch. "They're easy to justify when you figure you won't need to buy any more water tanks, hoses or axe handles."

The real costs, Welch points out, lie in the installation expenses. Water lines need to be run and buried below the freeze line to every waterer. Installing the waterers themselves is not simple either and may require a professional touch.
Waterers should be placed near a fence line, possibly somewhere visible, for ease of inspection. In addition, because cattle congregate near water sources, waterers will need to be placed on a concrete pad. Geotextile fabric topped with gravel or concrete washout can also provide a stable surface around waterers.

To install five waterers on 50 acres in 2006, Welch spent about $7,000 for plumbing, pipes, and trenching.

"If we had dug our own trenches, laid our own pipes, and did our own plumbing, we could have reduced that cost to less than $900 per unit," says Welch. "If our pastures came together in a central location, we could have installed a simpler layout for even less."

Factors to Consider:

To help with the decision process, Welch suggests considering the following factors:

Animal numbers - Will your pasture be empty or will you carry animals thru winter? If there are only a few animals and temperatures drop, they may not drink often enough to prevent an energy-free unit from freezing. Most of these units are designed for an optimum number of 25-50 animals.

Climate - Most energy-free models (when adjusted properly) will not freeze. However, if winter temperatures are extreme, in the single digits for example, an energy-efficient or continuous-flow model might be a better option. Deciding which to use early on will determine whether electricity also needs to be run along with water lines.

Ease of maintenance - Some automatic waterers has visible floats that are a different color from the rest of the unit, such as Miraco's Mirafount with its blue float and black body. As long as the float is visible the farmer can be ensured there's sufficient water in the waterer's reservoir, even from a distance.

Welch's Key Advice

"Once in awhile sit down and think about how you spend your time. What chores take the most time? Do you enjoy them? I think sometimes when people reflect on that, they discover that spending a few dollars on time saving technology, like an automatic waterer, can greatly improve your quality of life, as well as your productivity. Those are good things."

Whatever brand and model of waterer is chosen, Welch says, there's two ways to go about the installation - start with one to get a sense of functionality or go all in with as many as needed. In either, case having a clear idea of your needs is the key.

Of the five models Welch tested, he says the Mirafount waterers outperformed the competition, functioning well with little required maintenance throughout Kansas winters.

View all Gallagher Automatic Waterers

Grow Food, Not Just Feed

At 4 Wiley Farm in Mount Vernon, Ohio, Heather and Daniel Wiley, along with their children Isaac and Walker, have cultivated a thriving operation centred around Miniature Herefords. Their journey began with a desire to produce quality beef for their family and has since evolved into a passion for breeding, showing, and innovating in livestock care.

For Heather Wiley and her family, the journey into farming wasn’t about tradition- it was about resilience. “We had horses at the time,” she recalls, “but when the economy took a downturn, we had to think differently. You can’t eat a horse, but you can eat a cow.”

The Wiley's owned land, had a love for animals, and wanted something that could not only sustain their family but provide options if times got tough. That’s when they discovered Miniature Herefords; a unique breed with a big future.

Small But Mighty

Miniature Herefords aren’t just cute; they’re fit for farm. Developed in the 1970s in Texas as a response to the Hereford breed’s trend toward larger, less economical animals, the Miniatures were created with a different goal in mind: efficiency and manageability.

“Miniature Herefords are like the Herefords of the 1950s,” Heather explains. “Just a bit smaller. Everything was going bigger and bigger, but we know that bigger is not always better; you can't eat the leg and bone of a cow. So, the revolt against that was, well, let's make them smaller. For Miniatures, the herd standard requires females to be 45 inches or shorter, and bulls and steers to be 48 inches or less.

In their current operation, the Wiley's manage around 80 head, with all animals maintained on a grass and grain fed program. “One of the advantages of the Miniature Herefords is not only are they more efficient, but they’re also better for the small farms where we are in Ohio. You can have twice as many Miniatures as you can full size on the same amount of ground. The other advantage of the Miniature Herefords is the portion sizes of the meat obviously is smaller, but it fits better with the USDA recommended portion sizes.”

From Pasture to Podium

But the Wiley's don’t just raise Miniature Herefords for beef. They’re also prominent in the show circuit. “When our son was nine or ten, he took a Miniature to the County Fair, we had no idea what we were doing.” Heather says. Following this first show the Wiley's, encouraged by their local vet, entered the Ohio Beef Expo Miniature Hereford show; and came out reserve grand champions. “That’s how we got into the show side of things. Once you get that belt buckle, there’s kind of no going back. So that is how we transitioned; we still like the grass-fed meat quality, but for the show stock we do shove a lot of money into grain!”

Setting Up Right

A big part of raising healthy cattle fit for showing and sale is having the right infrastructure especially when it comes to water.

The Wiley's search for a better water solution was prompted by a sudden change in their facilities. “We had a lease on a show barn just around the corner, and we lost that,” Heather explains. “We had about 30 days to move our show animals somewhere else.”

As part of their new set up, the Wiley's were looking for a reliable water solution for their miniature herd. “We were originally looking at another brand but were drawn to the simplistic design of Miraco. “If something breaks, it’s easy to fix. [Other brands] had a lot of moving parts and didn’t appear to be built as good; so that’s the direction we went, and we love them” explains Issac Wiley.

Another key draw card for Miraco was the range of tank sizes available, fit for this unique breed. “Our calves are small, so you’ve got to have a low access point for them to drink. And on a hot summers’ day, the automatic waterer means they’ve got constant access to water at a height that they can reach”.

The Wileys’ opted for a selection of durable Lil-Spring Livestock Watering Tanks, specifically designed for smaller livestock and compatible with the Miraco Heater Kit.

Grants and Groundwork

The Wiley’s were able to implement their new setup thanks to the USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The grant enabled them to establish fencing, replant pastures, construct a barn and feedlot for their show animals, and install an updated water system.

Isaac explains how the grant process worked:
"The way the grant works is they assess your operation — how many head you run, their average weight, how much forage they consume, and what your land can produce based on your region. From that, they calculate what infrastructure you need: the size and number of paddocks, the barn, feedlot, and how many waterers you’ll require. It’s all based on a mathematical formula."

Once they received the assessment, the Wiley's laid out their paddocks, pastures, and planned the placement of the waterers accordingly.

"We added a few extras to what was spec’d," Isaac says. "Because this is also a show facility, we included smaller paddocks as we were building and added more waterers. They had spec’d three, but we ended up putting in seven."

Installation took place over winter and, as Heather puts it, “we made an absolute mess of the place,” with about 1,200 feet of water line going in. “There were muddy ditches everywhere all winter.”

Four of the seven waterers are fitted with tank heaters to withstand the cold.
"Each winter is a little different, but we usually have below-freezing temperatures for about four months of the year. Whether the tanks freeze depends on just how cold it gets, but having those tank heaters really helps avoid problems.”

Relationships and Reliability: The Gallagher Difference

Exceptional service and strong supplier relationships have played a key role in the Wiley’s experience with Gallagher products.

“Neil has been great. He’s usually at expos with Straight A Ranch Supply and Herd Pro, they all kind of team up together. We got introduced to Neil so now every time we're at a show, we always go over and have long conversations.

He’s very knowledgeable and always willing to help. When we first installed the waterers, Neil pointed out some issues with the outlet we’d used to power the heaters that we hadn’t considered, which was a huge game changer for us.”

Prior to connecting directly with Neil, the Wiley's introduction to Gallagher products began unexpectedly; but left a lasting impression.

Heather shares, “A few years ago, around Christmas time, I won a Gallagher starter pack through an Instagram giveaway. It included a solar charger, fence tester, and some fence posts. We had already been using portable electric fencing, but we'd just been going to Tractor Supply, buying cheaper fibreglass posts and fencing, and we immediately noticed a difference in the quality.

“Now anytime we have to buy a fence charger or reel or anything, we gravitate to Gallagher, 'cause it's just better made, better engineered. The technology is there- it's simple, but it's just well-engineered.”

Their positive experience with Gallagher made the decision to invest in Miraco waterers—now part of the Gallagher family—a natural next step.

“I didn't realize that Miraco was sold by Gallagher but it all kind of made sense because we have become a big fan of the Gallagher products.”

Wiley’s Wise Words

For other producers considering upgrades to their watering systems, the Wiley's have some practical advice:

“Overengineered is not always better. Sometimes simple is better. We are so used to the bells and whistles on our cars and our phones and everything else that a lot of times people can get wrapped up in what the new features are. And those are all features that can break. Those are all features that can freeze in the winter, and this is a product that is just better when you keep it basic.

“They're easy to install, user-friendly on maintenance. You get right into them. There are hardly any moving parts, so putting them in—we put all of them in on a Saturday.” said Daniel Wiley.

Isaac adds: “Miraco are about 1/3 of the price, and they’re simple. When you start comparing them to other brands, I don’t know why you would pick something over these.”

If you're ready to upgrade your water system with a solution that’s proven simple, durable and cost-effective, explore the Miraco range today — and talk to your local distributor or Gallagher Territory Manager to learn more.

This livestock waterer is especially designed for sheep and goats. Holds 6 gallons and will provide water for up to 100 head of sheep or goats.

This Pet Waterer holds 5 gallons and is designed for small animals like dogs and cats and can be used for multiple purposes. This model delivers cool, clean water automatically.

Designed to serve up to 180 beef cattle or 70 dairy cattle, making it suitable for large-scale operations. It is insulated with 2 to 3 inches of urethane foam, providing reliable freeze resistance in cold conditions. The unit includes four 9.25-inch openings, each fitted with 10-inch drinker balls.

Performs best in moderate to cold climates, but extreme cold regions may benefit from a heated model.

Note: No built-in heater (consider model 3345E for heated version)