Water Transport

Objectives Transport of large quantities of water to reduce movement of livestock looking for drinking water; the herd can thus exploit pastures far from permanent water points. Techniques | Objectives Techniques Costs Targeted Livestock System Impact Context of Application Monitoring: EIA, Indicators See Also

- Utilisation of draft animals carrying receptacles of variable capacity on their back (frequently goatskins or inner tubes) and carts drawn by animals (donkeys, horses and sometimes trained oxen); the carts have been remodelled to hold the receptacles (inner tubes, barrels, etc.) which can contain large amounts of water (e.g. up to 1,000 litres).
- In some cases farmers use vehicles which carry or pull the water tank.
- Network for transport of water by pipes, either by gravity or a pumping system.

Costs

Costs depend on the system of transport used.
Here, for example, are some prices for use of a cart with animal draft in West Africa (estimated costs):

Cart: 115 to 230 Euro.
Harness : 30 Euro.
Draft animal (donkey or horse): 15 to 150 Euro.
Receptacles: Inner tube 8 to 23 Euro.
Barrels ( depending on size): 4 to 11 Euro.

Targeted Livestock Systems

Extensive systems :

- In extensive livestock systems this technique makes it possible to bring water to the animal, which can therefore utilise pastures further and further away.
- In mixed livestock systems, the impossibility of having water points on the farm very often leads the farmers to use this technique.

The high costs of this technique limits utilisation to dairy cows and small ruminants, provided also that smaller numbers are involved, also during limited period of time with scarce pasture resources to allow animals to reach remote pastures areas.

Grazing System

LGA | LGS1 | LGS2 | LGS3 | LGH1 | LGH2 | LGH3 | LGT1 | LGT2 | LGT3
Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N | Y | Y | N

Mixed System

MCG | MCR | MCC | MFF | MEF
N | N | N | N | N

Industrial System

IFP | IPL | IPG | IRM | IDU | ISL | ITN | IMP
N | N | N | N | N | N | N | N

Impact

- Positive environmental impact

- Reduction of trampling around the water points.
- Improved distribution of animal load according to forage resources available.

- Negative environmental impact

- Creation of suitable infrastructures which can have secondary repercussions on the environment (access roads open to activities other than livestock farming).

- Transport on roads or tracks can lead to their degradation.

- Impact on herd productivity

- Utilisation of pasture resources which would otherwise be inaccessible, beneficial to the animals diet.
- Improvement of livestock production by reduction of diary distances walking for watering.

Context of Application

- Favourable factors:

- Existence of convenient infrastructures : passable tracks, accessible water points.
- Risks of breakdown of waterworks with mechanised systems (security of drinking water).
- Insufficient pasture resources near water points.

- Unfavourable factors:

- Cost of equipment.
- Requirement of labour.

Monitoring: EIA, Indicators

- Number of farms equipped with water transport systems.
- Length of water conduits and number of tanks.
- Reduction of mortality rate on farms using this technique.

See Also

Water Harvesting

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