As any livestock farmer knows, having water available for a herd is one of the paramount factors to a successful farming operation. Farmers across the country have discovered that a versatile and cost effective watering tank is a large, recycled tire.
“This practice is becoming more and more popular among livestock producers,” said Greg Ritzman, technician at the NRCS office in Vinita, Okla. His office has helped over a 100 farmers install old tractor tires as waterers in the past few years.
Mark Green, a district conservationist for the USDA NRCS office located in Greene County, Missouri noted that some of the advantages of using tires as waterers are that it keeps the tires out of landfills and recycles them and that they’re tough and strong (virtually indestructible) and could last 20-30 years. Another advantage is that when water freezes and thaws the tire will expand and contract with it instead of breaking. They are very cost effective as you can make them for virtually no expense or purchase them and have them last longer than a traditional waterer. The NRCS also offers a cost-share program for farmers.
There are two real ways to implement the tractor tire waterers on the farm. The first is to make them yourself and the second is to purchase pre-made waterers.
If you want to make them yourself, Green recommended using only tractor tires that are large and have thick rubber walls. Regular tractor tires won’t work.
“They’ve really got to be recycled tires from heavy implements and machinery or combine tires. They need to be wide tires with a small hole in the middle for the wheel,” Green noted.
Green suggested to cut the top side wall completely off (while laid on its side) and bring your water pipe through the ground in the middle of the tire – where the wheel would go. Then fill the middle hole surrounding the pipe with concrete all the way up to the rim.
Ritzman and Green both recommend installing a gravel pad around the tire at least 6-12 inches thick and at least 6 feet around the tire.
Green cautioned that if you’re doing it yourself, stay away from steel belted tires as they are difficult to cut. The best ways to cut the sidewall off is either with a reciprocating saw (and keep blade and rubber wet with just water) or use a chain saw, which is a little messier and more dangerous.
“You still have to keep the pad around the tank up and the float maintained. If you put a few gold fish in the tires it will keep the algae at bay,” added Green, “and keep the tank at least 18 inches out of the ground. That will avoid making a swimming pool for the cows. When the waterer is buried then they’ll go step in it. The calves can still water out of it with no problems at 18 inches.”
