RIMBEY, Alta. – When Jim Anderson’s father settled in west-central
Alberta, he built his farm on the banks of the Blindman River.
It was common practice in 1946 for a farm to be near a water source,
but a generation later Anderson is concerned about the quality of the
river.
An interest in the stream bank environment sent him on a search for a
way to bring the water to his cattle rather than allowing them to wade
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into the river for a drink.
In 1999, he heard about a frost-free, energy-free nose pump invented by
Walter Diehl. Not only could it pump using cow power, it could bring
water to remote areas of pastureland for little cost.
The concept is simple and is based on the same idea as an old-fashioned
hand pump. Working with Diehl’s blessing, Anderson redesigned the pump
with help from the Alberta Research Council.
“Our biggest improvement has been the environmental influence. When
cattle pump water, the water comes up into a bowl. What they don’t
drink goes right back down and I knew that was a major concern with
backwash,” he said.
The modified pump delivers a steady supply of fresh, clean water on
demand into a shallow trough. The Styrofoam-insulated pipes and pumping
mechanisms do not freeze even when the temperature dips to -40.
A major challenge in Anderson’s area is freeze-up by the first part of
September. He is unable to use some areas of the ranch because he can’t
get water to the cattle without risking a frozen pump.
“We have to manage our pastures so that the grazing pastures that use
diaphragm pumps are grazed out before it starts freezing,” Anderson
said.
The estimated cost to run electricity to a quarter-section pasture
without water was nearly $10,000. This included the cost of the utility
and pumping equipment.
Something less costly was in order.
After testing the refurbished nose pump on their own herd, Jim and
Jackie Anderson obtained a provisional worldwide patent on the design
and started marketing the pumps from their ranch this spring.
The design of the waterer includes a small enclosed trough with a lever
that is pushed by the animal’s nose as it drinks. The trough is
approximately the width of a cow’s head.
The pump is mounted on top of a galvanized steel culvert set vertically
into the ground to whatever depth is required to pull the water from a
dugout, well or other sources. The pump is able to draw water from a
depth of 23 metres.
The nose-powered lever operates a piston pump suspended in the well,
much like old hand pumps. Ice may build up on the sides of the trough
when cattle slop after drinking, but the insulated culvert walls and
cement pad keep the mechanism from freezing.
Cattle learn to operate the pump within a day. The trough is sloped
downward so as the cow drinks it moves forward and pushes the lever. It
quickly learns this action provides about half a litre of clean water.
Anderson suggests installing the pump in summer so cows learn how to
operate it before cold weather arrives.
The cost of the system is about $2,500. Orders include an instructional
video and manual.
This summer the Andersons plan to try the pump with horses and bison.
The Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration has expressed interest
in the pumps for its remote pastures and has successfully used them on
a demonstration site near Bentley, Alta.
The pumps fit into Anderson’s overall environmental plan. In the last
couple years, a project was established on the farm with the help of
the Alberta Woodlot Association. The Andersons have built five
kilometres of fence along the Blindman River banks to keep cattle out.
More than 7,000 trees have been planted to stabilize the banks.
“The motive behind that is to improve water quality in the river that
influences the consumers downstream,” said Anderson.
The Blindman converges with the Red Deer River, which is a principal
source of water to people in central Alberta.
“One of the biggest culprits of water quality is cows in the river,” he
said.
To see the pump in action, visit www.frostfreenosepumps.com.
