With spring calving and lambing coming to a close and animals returning to the fields, farmers may be thinking about updating their existing water systems.

This week the Irish Farmers Journal examines the cost of water troughs along with the fittings they require.

The figures above are based on an average of quotes given by suppliers from across the various regions.

Troughs

Concrete troughs averaged in the region of €200. The highest prices were quoted in the west, but it should be noted there is a lack of demand for these larger sizes given the land conditions. Sizes of 25 gallons to 50 gallons were far more common in the region and they were priced at €75 to €125.

When it comes to choosing which size trough to install, larger sizes represent better value based on price per gallon. However, the type of stock the trough is intended for should be kept in mind as 140 gallon drinkers can be too high for sheep to reach.

For some farms which do not have the same volume requirement necessary to install large concrete troughs, plastic ones can be a good alternative. In every region the price of 90 gallon troughs were around €90 to €95 apart from the midlands, which was €80.

Fittings

In terms of fittings, the prices were very similar across the board, with variations occurring between individual suppliers rather than between regions.

Piping

On the piping end of things, prices are based on normal gauge pipes in rolls of 150m.

In both the 1in and 3/4in sizes, which merchants stated were their most common sizes, there was only a €10 spread between the most expensive and the cheapest. Interestingly, the south had the cheapest 3/4in roll but the most expensive 1in roll.

These prices were compiled to give the average price of installing troughs 150m from the nearest water source using 3/4in piping.

The average price to install a concrete trough in the west is by far the highest among the five regions at €378. The other four fall in and around the same price of €335, with the north being roughly €5 cheaper.

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